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PARMOD KUMAR
Handbook on Common
BUTTERFLIES
of U ttarakhand
PARMOD KUMAR
Zoological Survey of India, Northern Regional Station,
218 Kaulagarh Road, Dehra Dun 248 195
Edited by the Director, Zoological Survey of india, Kolkata
;;nA
Zoological Survey of India

Kolkata
CITATION
Parmod Kumar. 2008. Handbook on Common Butterflies of Uttarakhand . 1-136.
(Published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata)
Published : August, 2008
ISBN 97~-81-8171-198-4
© Govt. of India, 2008
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

• No part of this publication may be reproduced stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
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without the prior permission of the publisher.
• This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade, be lent, resold,
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• The correct price of this publication is the price printed on this page. Any revised price
indicated by a rubber stamp or by a sticker or by any other means is incorrect and should be
unacceptable.
PRICE
Indian Rs. 750.00
Foreign : $ 40; £ 30
Published at the Publication Division by the Director Zoological Survey of India, 2341
4, AJe Bose Road, 2nd MSO Building, 13th floor, Nizam Palace, Kolkata 700020 and
printed at Mis Shiva Offset Press, Dehra Dun 248 001.
FOREWORD
The Lepidoptera (Butterflies) is an important group of insects whose members are
economically important for mankind from the time immmemorial. They play a key role in
nature as an important component of the food chain of birds, spiders and other predatory
insects. They also act as pollinators. The old relationship between the human and butterflies is
today going through a period of great stress as humans by their activities are directly or
indirectly threatening the existence of butterflies. The presence of butterfl ies depend upon the
variety of factors including the climate, suitable food, appropriate adult nectar sources of other
food, suitable areas for flight and courtship and in some instances, the presence of certain
symbiotic species, notably ants.
The actual number of known butterflies from Uttarakhand is 323 but the present pictorial
handbook contains a descriptive and illustrated account of 11 0 species of common and fascinating
butterflies belonging to nine families of the suborder Rhopalocera, order Lepidoptera that are
most common in Uttarakhand. The handbook contains the scientific names of each butferfly,
followed by the common name, general ecology, diagnostic characters, wingspan and distribution
in the State vis-a-vis in India.
The Handbook on "Common Butterflies of Uttarakhand" is an effort by the Scientist of the

Zoological Survey of India to provide pictorial descriptions of the beautiful insects that attract
the naturalists' and the common people.
It is expectedthat this volume will assist scientific workers in identification of these important
group of insects.
Dr. Ramakrishna
Director
Zoological Survey of India
Dated: 5st August, 2008
Kolkata - 700 053
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1
CLASSIFICATION ............................................................................................................. 3
HISTORICAL RESUME .................................................................................................... 3
PHySIOGRAPHy ............................................................................................................... 5
TOPOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................. 5
VEGETATION .................................................................................................................... 6
1. Family PAPIOLINIDAE .......................................................................................... 9-22
2. Family PIERIDAE ................................................................................................. 23-44
3. Family DANAIDAE ............................................................................................... 45-52
4. Fatnily ACRAEIDAE ............................................................................................. 53-55
5. Family SATYRIDAE .............................................................................................. 56-76
6. Family ERYCINIDAE ............................................................................................ 77-80
7. Family NYMPHALIDAE ..................................................................................... 81-108
8. Family LYCAENIDAE ....................................................................................... 109-11 7
9. Family HESPERIIDAE ...................................................................................... 118-121
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 122
TABLE ............................................................................................................................. 125
INDEX .................................................................................................................... 133-136

PREFACE
The present document attempts to describe and illustrate COlnmon butterflies of

Uttarakhand, occurring in the range from 1,000 feet to 12,500 asl, in the thirteen districts of
the State, representing various ecological butterfly biotopes ranging from forests to orchards,
nurseries to wetlands, dumping ground to garbages, urination to faecal matters and humid
areas.
The descriptions are based on the collections made by survey parties of the Northern
Regional Station, Dehra Dun, since its inception in the year 1960, as also collected by author
during the last decade. The Handbook deals with 110 species representing nine families viz.,
Papilionidae, Pieridae, Danaidae, Satyridae, Nymphalidae, Acraeidae, Erycinidae, Lycaenidae
and Hesperiidae.
The handbook has been prepared keeping in mind its worthiness for the amateurs, naturalists
and students as an aid in field identification of the butterflies that fascinates the onlooker.
The colouration and patterns on the wings are very useful characters in identifying butterflies
an.d their classification. Characters like shape of wings, their margin and markings are important
morphological characters of taxonomic value. The figure of wings, showing different areas on
them would help readers to understand the text in a more meaningful way.
It is expected that the present attempt of the author would cater to the needs of the next
generation in understanding Butterflies.
Parmod Kumar
Zoological Survey of India,
Northern Regional Station,
Dehra Dun - 248 195
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The aythor is thankful to Dr. Ramakrishna, Director, Zoological Survey of India, for his
kind pennission to undertake the study, to Dr. Arun Kumar, fonner Additional Director and
Shri P.T. Bhutia, Scientist-E and Officer-in-Charge, Northern Regional Station, Zoological
Survey of India, Dehra Dun for providing necessary facilities and encouragement throughout
the preparation of the document. I would not let the opportunity to go without expressing my
sincere thanks to Dr. G.S. Arora, an eminent Lepidopterist and fonner Joint Director and
Officer-in-Charge of the Station, for his guidance, help and literature provided, without which
the work would not have been completed. It is my pleasure to place on record my sincere
thanks to my senior colleagues namely, Dr. H.S. Mehta, Dr. P.C. Tak and Shri J.P Sati for
rendering manifold help, to Dr. S.K.Gupta for critically going through the manuscript and
providing useful and constructive suggestions.
My sincere thanks are also due to Scientific, Technical and Administrative Staff of Northern
Regional Station, for extending help during the completion of work and also thanks to Shri M.
Vijay, Senior Research Fellow for assistance in computer inputs.
Thanks are also due to Shri Rakesh Kumar, Photographer, Northern Regional Station, ZSI,
Dehra Dun for photographing the beautiful digital images ofbutterflies that have been included
in the document.
Last, but not the least, my grateful thanks are due to Dr. Vinod Khanna for guidance.
My sincere thanks are also to all of my family members who encouraged and supported me
during the writing of this handbook and for sparing the time, which was rightfully their's.
IN RODUCTION
Butterflies play a key fo) ,e in nature. They are important component in the food chain
of birds, spiders and others pr,edatory insects. They also act as poHinators. The old relationship
between the man and buttertlies is today going through a period of great stress as humans
by their activities are ditectly or indirectly threatening the existence of butterflies. The
pres'ence of butterflies depends upon the a vari,ety of factors including the climate., suitable
food, appropriate adult nectar sources, suitable areas for flight and courtship and in some
instances, the presence of certain symbiotic sp,ecies, notably ants.
The butterflies reach adulthood through ,a series of stages, viz., egg; larvae; chrysalis, and
finally the imago or the sexually mature stage. Thus, the life history of a butterfly shows a
compi'ete metamorphosis from larval stage to adult stag,e, ,and this period is variable in
different species. Human activities are disturbing and destroying the delicate balance that
sustains these facto~s, leading to the decrease in butterfly populations as well as their divers'tty.
Some of the threats faced by the butterflies today are habitat destrulction, use of pesticides,
illegal collection of butterflies and their trading.
Like birds, some butterflies also migrate but the butterflYlnigration often takes the form
of persistent flight in one direction over long distances.
,Many species of butterfli,es show mimicry. They may camouflage thernselves with leaf
like paUerns and shapes, like the leaf butterflies, of the genus Kallima.
D ~B TT RF
2 Zoological Survey of ["dia
V.9
V.7 _ _
V.6 ,.,...---~
V.5
V.4
FOREWING
HIND WING
Fig. 1. Type of venation and name of the parts of wings.

KUMAR: Handbook on Common Butterflies of Uttarakhand 3
The actual number of known butterflies from Uttarakhand is 323 but the present pictorial
handbook contains a descriptive and illustrated account of 110 species of butterflies that are
most cOlnmon in Uttarakhand.
The scientific names of each butterfly is folIowed by the common name, general ecology,
diagnostic characters, size of wingspan (in mIn) and their distribution.
The tenninologx used in the text and figure of wings of butterflies (Fig. 1) are as follows :
UP-Upper side/dorsal side, V-Vein, DCV-Disco-cellular vein
UN-Underside/ventral side, M-Male, F-Female, WS-Wingspan.
CLASSIFICATION
Butterflies are insects belonging to the order Lepidoptera. The order is divided into two
suborders, Heterocera and Rhopalocera. The Heterocera constitutes the Moths while
Rhopalocera constitute the Butterflies. Some authorities distinguish a third division, the
Grypocera, which comprise.s the family Hesperiidae (the Skippers).
The suborder Rhopalocera includes nine families i.e. Papilionidae, Pieridae, Danaidae,
Satyridae, Nymphalidae, Amathusiidae, Acraeidae, Erycinidae and Lycaenidae under a single
super-family Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea that includes only one family, the Hesperiidae.
The family Amathusiidae does not occur in the Uttarakhand.
HISTORICAL RESUME
The butterflies of the Indian Region, including those from western Himalayas, were
named and described by Linnaeus and Fabricius for the first time during the eighteenth
century. Doherty (1886) published a list of butterflies, exclusively from Kumaon, for the
first time, followed by Hannyngton (1910-11) who published an account of 373 butterflies.
Mackinon and de Niceville (1897-98) published a list of 323 butterflies from Mussoorie
and neighbouring region from the western Himalayas followed by Ollenbach (1930-31) who
collected, identified and published a list of 143 butterflies from Mussoorie.
The other important works referable to the study of Garhwal Himalayas are by Stemptfer
(1952); Bernardi (1952) and Lesse (1952).
Wynter-Blyth (1957) recorded as many as 415 species from western Himalayas out of
which 323, species were listed from Uttarakhand. Subsequently Arora and Mandai (1977)
recorded 45 species from Garhwal; MandaI and Chaudhary (1977) recorded 10 species froln
Va] ley of flowers, Chaturvedi (1981) and MandaI (1984) recorded 17 species froln Garhwal
Himalayas and adjoining slopes of Tons valley forest. Arora (1994) recorded 68 species froln
4 Zoological Survey of India
t
N
...
I.-
•
Fig. 2. Map showing districts of Uttarakhand

KUMAR: Handbook on Common Blltte/~flies of Uttarakhalld 5
Rajaji National Park; Singh (1994) recorded 148 species froln New forest campus, Dehra
Dun; Arora, Ghosh and Chaudhary (1995) recorded 223 species from western Himalayas.
Arora (1997) identified 80 species of butterflies collected from Nanda Devi Biosphere.
Singh and Bhandari (2003) recorded 183 species from lower western Himalayan forests of
Doon Valley; Kumar and Kumar (1998) identified 21 species from Panchchuli (Dist.
Pithoragarh); Kumar and Gupta (2004) recorded 48 species from Govind Pashu Vihar,
Uttarkashi district.
Combining the lists as above, the present inventory of valid species of butterflies belonging
to nine families is somewhere nearly 323 species, of which the present work is restricted to
110 species the most common ones.
PHYSIOGRAPHY
Location and area
Uttarakhand lies between 28 0 44' and 31 0 28' N latitude and 77 0 35' and 81 0 01 'E longitude.
It was carved out from the state of Uttar Pradesh by separating the hill region with a geographical
area of 53,483 sq km constituting 1.630/0 of country land area, (Forest Survey of India, 1999).
The State has 13 districts, namely Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Rudra Prayag ,Tehri
and Uttarkashi in the Garhwal Division; and Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital,
Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar in the Kumaon division. (Fig. 2).
Boundary
Three districts of the state viz. Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh share an international
boundary in the North with Tibet (China) while in the East, Pithoragarh, Champawat and
Udham Singh Nagar share a boundary with Nepal.
Uttarkashi and Dehra Dun share its boundary with Himachal Pradesh in the Northwest
while in the South, Dehra Dun, Haridwar and a part of Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar
join the boundaries of Uttar Pradesh
Drainage
Ganges, Yamuna, Ramganga and Sharada are the four major rivers that originate frOln the
Uttar~khand Himalayas.
TOPOGRAPHY
Uttarakhand has been broadly divided into four topographical regions :
1. Plains of Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Dehra Dun district Bhabar and Terai area of
Dehra Dun, Garhwal and Nainital.
2. Middle Himalayan region.

3. Higher Himalayas.
4. Trans Himalayas.
VEGETATION
The altitude of the state varies from 300 m to 3,500 In and above. Seven out of 16 forest
types existing in India can be found in Uttarakhand (based on Champion and Seth, 1968).
These are:
1. Moist Alpine scrub : At tree line around an altitude of 3,500 m. The major species are
Betula uti/is and Rhododendron campanulatum.
2. Sub-alpine forests: At altitudes of 2,900 m to 3,500 m above sea level in the middle and
upper Himalayas. The forests are characterized by patches of Abeis-Betula interspersed
with shrubby growth and grassy patches or alpine grasslands called bugya/s
3. Himalayan Dry temperate forests: In the inner dry Trans Hilnalayan valleys of the
state. Major species occurring in this forest are Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana and
Juniperus species.
4. Himalayan Moist temperate forests : Between 1600-2900 m altitude in the Himalayas,

characterized mainly by coniferous species such as Cedrus deodar, Picea smithiana,
Abies pindrow, Quercus spp, and Betula spp.
5. Sub-tropical pine forests: In lower regions of the Himalayas with pines as the dominant
specIes.
6. Tropical Dry deciduous forests : In the dry southern faces of Shiwaliks and adjoining
plains. These forests are open and mixed with major species as Shorea robusta, Anogeissus
latifolia, Terminalia tomentosa etc.
7. Littoral and Swamp forests : Occurs at a few locations in the valleys in the foothills
and are characterized by the presence of moisture loving species such as Syzigium cumini,
Ficus glomerata, Pterospermum acerifolium and Diospyros embrioptyris. The undergrowth
is characterized by the presence of cane Calamus ten ius.
The State of Uttarakhand is bestowed with varied vegetation types ranging from
tropical deciduous to alpine vegetation. In the lower altitude region up to 800 m, moist
tropical and dry deciduous forest of Sal, teak or mixed/pure forest of syzygium, Aegle,
Haldina, Acacia and Terminalia are found. At places, scrub forests having evergreen
species are also found.
KUMAR: H,an,dbook ,on Common Buft,erj1ies of Uttarakhan.d 7
8 ZOQlogical Survey of India
KUMAR: Handbook 011 Common Blitlel/lies of Utlarakhand 9
1. Family PAPILIONIDAE
Swallowtails
The species of the family Papilionidae consists of the largest and most beautiful of the
Indian Butterflies and cOlnmonly known as Swallow-tails. The Birdwings have a Wingspan
up to 250 mm. The members of this family are predominantly black or black-brown, except
Apollos, (Parnassius), which are white, spotted with red, blackened or blue spots and are
found in high altitudes in the Himalayas. The tail-less form are also abundant.
They are active, fast fliers and if disturbed immediately retract to the forest areas. Some
of the species of this falnily are fond of visiting and feeding on flowers and some settle on
damp ground, either alone or in congregation. Papilionid butterflies love basking in the sun.
They are mainly found in the forest and hilly regions but some of them are common in
the plains. They are characterized by their forewings being fully developed; the hind wings
with the pre-costal spur present, vein 1 b absent; claws are generally simple.
They are distributed up to 18,000 feet in Himalayan reaches. The caterpillars of most of
the species feed on pungent and evil tasting food plants including citrus, orange, lime, bel etc.
The average life span of an adult Swallow-tail butterfly may be as long as 4 months, but
generally up to 20-30 days. The eggs are spherical, smooth and white, green and blotched
The larvae have fleshy spines, but are never hairy. They have a pair of structure called
"osmeterium", a forked scent gland. This gland produces powerful chelnicals, which help in
repelling predators.
Some of the common species are Common Mormon (Papilio polytes) , Lime Butterfly
(Papilio demoleus), Common Peacock (Papillo polyctor) and Yellow Swallow-tails (Papilio
machaon).
10 Zo%gictl/ Sun1ey of India
1. Pa,cltliopta ar; 'toloclliae (Fabricius)

The Common Rose
1775. Papilio aristolochiae Fabricius, Syst. Bill." : 443.
1939. Pachliopta arisl%chiae (Fabricius) : Talbot, Fauna (?l British ludia (BUIU:l.1lie.\), 1 ,: R6 Hgs. 15-) 6.
Gener.,1 Ecology : The COlntnOn Ros'e is a red ~ bodied Swallowtail huuerlly of lower
elevations and is very cotnmon in the plains.
It is common during the rainy season. Male
emits a strong and slightly pungent odour. It
is migratory and roosts in large numbers
together with the Crimson Rose. The flight
is slow and del'iberate. Male forms of PapUio
polytes romulus Cralner form stich ius is an
excellentmimic of this butterfly. It is a
COlnmon visitor of garden flowers of Lantana,
Cosmos, and Zinnia etc. and visits wet soil.
It can be seen basking near treetops with it
wings spread out. nder s'l de Male
Diagnostic Characters: Antennae, thorax and ,abdomen above black~ h,ead and the whole
of thorax and abdolnen beneath vermiii on··red.
,Male and female: Tailed. Upper side: Wings black. Forewing area paler with black~ fold
stripes and well lnarked pale vein-stripes. Hindwing with a d'iscal row of elongate white
spots from 2 to 5 ,and a row of sub... marginal fled lunules; tail black. Under side' Discal spot
in the anal area 1 usua11y red. In male, scent "wool absent. Feluale similar, but wings broader
than in male.
Wingspan : 80-110 lnm.
Distribution : This specie is common throughout in India and recorded upto 3,000 feet
in North-west Hhnalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and MyanInar. Uttarakhand : Recorded
from DehraDun, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri and Pithoragarh districts andCOmlTIOn in the State.
2. ,C hilasa elytia ,clytia (Linnaeus)

The Common Mime
1758. Papilio c/ylia Linnaeus, Syst. Nat." () Olh ed.) : 479.
1939. Cfrilosa ely/fa c/ylia (Linn.aeus) : Talbot, Fauna of British Jl.1dj.a (Butte,I:/lies) 1 : ) 16, figs . 28 .. 29.
General Ecology: This butterfly is found in hilly regions usually .at low elevations. They
congregate in large numbers on sandy banks of streaJns. It is plentiful in the pre-monsoon
and monsoon season. It feeds mainly frOlTI flowers of shrubs and small trees. It basks with
its wings spread flat or closed.
KUMAR: Halldbook on Common Bllu<' ,:/lies (~l U/tarakhand 11
Upper side fom "fylill Undc side form "(.'fi.ll
This tailless s~'allowtail has two forms 'in northern India: elytia and dissil11ilis, both the
fonns are available in the state. The clylia milnics the Common Crow, Euploea core Cralner
and dissimilis Inirnics, The Blue Tiger, Tirultutl" Iilnniace (era.ner).
Diagnostics ,Char(lct,e~' : Form elytfa : Male and.felnale : Upper side: Wings rich dark
brown with cre,aITI-coioured markings" Forewing with sub-Jnarginal white spots .outwardly
truncat'e or ,elnarginated; the spot in ar'ea 4 shifted in\vards out 'Of lines~ those in areas 6" 7.
and 8 oblique to the ,costa, the low,est and the upper two spots elongate,~ a eri,. s of slnal1er
marginal white spots, two in area 1, one
above theother, and two in area 8; a single
sub~apical spot betw,e,en thelnarginal and sub-
marginal series" Hindwing with a discal series
of long arrow-shap,ed streaks in area I to 5,
a sub-marginal series of white crescents in
broadly divided across the middle by a bar
of tbe ground colour. Underside: Pale to
rich d.ark brown. Forewing markings as
above. Hindwing with a series of large yellow
terminal spots .
.Wingspan : 90-100 mIn. Upper side M.lIe form (/isSillij/t\
Form dissimilis : Male and felnale : Upper side: Wings black. Forewing with four 'crealny
streaks, joined at the base, a long streak in area I b, two streaks in area 1 with two spots"
streaks in are·a 21uuch broader with an outwardly emarginaled spot beyond' in area 3 a spot
at the base and one beyond, in area 4 a single similar spot, in area 5 and 6 ,elongate streaks,
and in 8 ;and 9 much smaller elongate spots; sub-ma~ginal and Jna~ginal Jnarkings ,as in tonn
c!ytia, Underside: Markings as upper side. Hindwing with large y,e llowlnarginal spots.
Wing.~pan : 90... 100 1nln.
Di~tribulion.: The subspeci,es is not very cornmon in its range of distribution. Oc'casionally
up to 7,500 feet in the HiJnalayas, usually 3,000 feet in the southern India and 5,000 feet
in Srianka. Uttarakhand .: Both the forms are recorded from Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri
Nainital and Tehri districts.
12 Zoological Surv(,'J' (~llndia
3. Papi/io po/pt.e... ron'.IIIII~\· Cralner

'1 he Common Mormon
1775. Pari/io romulus. Crmner, Pap. Exot., 1 : 67.
1939. Papilla fJolytes fomulus Cramer: Talbot Fauna of British India (Bullel:!liefi) 1 : 178 .
Generdl Ecology It is a 'most COlnlnon Swallowtail butterfly, occurring near hUlnan

habitations, especially in the gardens and fields ,cuhivat,ed with orange and lime plants. It
occurs ev'e rywhere in open woods, gardens at low elevations and flies cros,e to the ground
and never rises abov,e 3 mts. The COJnmon MOflnon visits wet patches of soil also ground
dalnpened with urine. Due to its large size and long proboscis, it can feed froln flowers with
long ,corolla tubes. Both sexes bask in the sun with their wings spread flat against the
substratum. The felnale has thr,e,e different forms, vi . (vrus, .;tichius and rOl1ntius. Th,e fonllS
slichius and r01J1u/.llS Inilnic the 'COITIlnOn Rose and Crllnson Rose, respect ively. Both have
black bodies.
Upper side l\lale form romulus Upper side FCluale rtJl1Ut/US form ~..tichius
Diagnostic Characters : Head, thorax and abdolnen black with white spots. Male and
.female : Upper side.: Wings black. For'ewing withrnarginaI se.ries of white or pale yellow
spots decreasing in size towards the apex. Hindwing: Upper side with complete discal band
of elongate white spots, lTIOre prominent in female, ending in red lunu l,es in the toroal region
and sub~marginal series of crimson lunules in female . Under side DuH coloured. The InaJ,es
are slnaller in size.
Wingspan : Male 75 ~94 IntTI., Female : 88-94 rnm.
Distrihution : The sub-speci,es is very COIU1TIon throughout P'e ninsuJar India

to Assarn, but unCOlnlnon at higher altitude. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanlnar.
Uuarakhand : R,ecorded fr01TI Ahnora, Bageshwar, ChalTIoli, Chalnpawal, Dehra Dun,
Haridwar, Pauri, Rudra Prayag, Nainital, Tehri, Pithoragarh Uttarkashi and Udhaln Singh
Nagar districts.
KUMAR: Handbo,Qk ,oil Common Buttel/7ies of Uttar,a khand 13
4. Papilio prQ,tenor protenor (Cramer)

The Spangle
1775. Papilio protenor Cramer, Pap. Exot., I : 77.
1909a. PapiUo pro/enol' protenor (Cramer) : Jordan, In Seitz, Macrolep . Fauna Indo-A listral., '9 : 75-76.
General Ecology : It is a tail-less black-bodied butterfly. It is fond of dalnp patches,

particularly in the company of its 'Own spe'cies . Visit. flowers and gardens. It flies in a
leisurely Inanner- when disturbed; it displays relnarkabfe powers of flight, Inaking off both
rapidly and erratically.
Upper side Male
Diagnostic Characl,ers : Antennae black; head, thorax and abdolnen brownish-black.

Male and female: Both tail . . less. Upper side : Wings black with blue scaling on hindwing.
Male has white costal streak of specialized scales and tornal black-'c'entered red spot. Female
hindwing with additional black-centered red spot in area 2; sub .. marginal lunul'es in ar'ea 2,
6 and 7; ceil irrorated with bluish scal,es. No white ,costal stripe. Under side : The basal red
stripe does not rea,c hthe base of the hindwing.
Wingspan: 100.. 140 mm.
Distribu.tion : The subsp·ecies is not uncommon within its range of distribution from
Kashmir to Kumaon., rather rar'e west of Mussoorie. The Spangle fl i'es in the North-West
Himalayas upto an altitude of 8,,500 f:eet. Also occurs in Nepal. Uttarakhand : Almora,
Bageshwar, Chamoli, DehraDun, Haridwar, Pauri, Rudra Prayag, Pithoragarh, Tehri and
UUarkashi districts.
14 Z,o%gi,ca.l Survey (~r I"dia
5. Papllio poiyctor poiyctor (Boisduva'l)

The Common Peacock
1836. Papilio polyetor Boisduval, Spec. Gen. ,ep., 1 : 205.
1895. Papilio po/yetor polyetor (Boisduval) : Rothschild, A f,evision of the Papilios 'Of the Eastern Hemishere.
Nov. Zool., 2 : 381.
General Ecology: This beautiful butterfly flies throughout the Himalayas and is comrnon
in wann valleys. Dry season fonn may be seen settling in large numbers on damp patches
of mud and the bank of streams, and w,et season form within gardens. It visits the flowers
of Lantana Jasmine etc., and generally hovers for a long time over flower.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae, head., thorax and abdomen brownish..bla,ck; the head,
thorax and abdomen above thinly irrorated w'th green scales above.
Male and female: Similar. Upper sid,e : Wings dark black and tailed. Male with woolly
scent stripes on forewing. Forewing with diffuse golden green irroration, becoming bluish
,anteriorly. Hindwing with less dense golden-gre,enirroration, turning to blue on the ,anterior
portions of the wing; a broad bright blue upper discal patch, broad between areas 4 and 1,
and has its outer edge uneven, occupying the base of area 4 and tbe outer portions of areas
5,6, and 7; posteriorly this patch is continued in ar'eas I to 3 by much smaller diffuse
quadrat,e spots of brilliant golden-green
scales; tomus with three or four 'crarets-
red sub-marginal crescents. Underside :
Chocolate brown, somewhat thin .l y
irrorated with yellowish scales, which
are, however, absent from a more or less
triangular p,atch in the middle of the
forewing post'eriorly. Hindwing without
discal patch; sub-marginal series of
claret-red ,c rescents, ea'c h crescent
transversed inwardly by a line of
purplish blue, follow,ed by velvety black
spots and broad white m,a rginal
crescents. Upper Side Male
Wingspan : 90~ 130 mm.
Distribution : The subspecies is common froln Chitral (Pakistan) to Kumaon from low
,elevation to about 7,500 feet. Uttarakhand: Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Nainital, Pithor,agarh,
Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts.
KUMAR : Ha 1.1 db O,ok ,on Common Butterflies of Uttarakhand 15
6.. Papilio demoleus demoleus Li nnaeus

he Lime Butterfly
1758. Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat.. (1 O'th ed .) : 464 .
1939. P,apilio demoleus demoleus . innaeus, Talbot, Fauna 0/ British India (Buttet:/lies) 1 : ) 89.
General Ecology: It is also known as the Lemon Butterfly or ime Swallowtail. The
most common butterfly occuring throughout the country. Visits garden flow'ers and flowers
of all Citrus, Radish and Curry leaf plants during and after monsoons. It has a very quick
& straight flight. It is an op'en plain species but also found in smaller numbers in forested
country. They aggr,egate in hundreds and mud puddle with ,closed wings. As it grows old,
the yellow markings on the wings frequently tum to deep orange.
Diagnostic Characters: Antennae dark reddish-brown; head, thorax and abdomen dusky
black. Palpi, thorax and ,abdomen beneathcrealn yellow.
Male and female : Upp,e r side :

Forewing black with yet ow spots.
Hindwing without ,a tail and with a
brick-red oval spot anteriorly border,ed
with blue lunules at the inner margin; a
blu ish spot near the ,costal margin.
Yellow wavy markings at the base of
both wings. Marginal and tenninal row
of yellow spots on both the wings.
Under side: Forewing almost back with
7 yellow str,eaks at the base and a few
orange spots. Hindwing with b lue
bordered, orange spots in the middle.
Upper side Male
Wingspan : 80- 100 mm,.
Distribution: The Subspecies is v'ery common throughout India,asc,ending toabout 7,000

feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand: Almora Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Rudra
Prayag, P'thoragarh, Champawat, Nainital Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi and Udham Singh Nagar
districts.
16 Zoological Survey of Jndia
7. Papilio nraclraoll pUI.jabellsis Eitner

The Common Yellow Swallowtail
1895. Papillo mac/lOon punjabcllsis imler, Arb. Ve,,: Bei Schmell. , 2 : 104.
1939. Papilio machaoJl pLmjabellsis Eimer: Talbot, Fauna of British India (Buller/lies)., 1 :1 96 .
•
General Ecology. It is a tailed, black and yellow butterfly. A fast flier but frequently
interrupted by visits to low growing flowers over which it rests. It is fond of hill tops
and visits garden flowers. It inhabits the open, grassy, flower-,c ov,e red tneadows of the
hills.
Diagno51ic Characters: Antennae black; head., thorax and abdomen with crealny colour
with black lines. Abdomen beneath with narrow lateral ill-defined black lining.
Male and felnale : Upper side Forew ing with the ground colour bla,ck, dusted with
yellow-slcales, rest of cell yellow with a black bar and another bar at its end. Discal area
yellow with bla,ck veins. Marginal area black with a cOlnplet'e series of regular slnaH
yellow spots near the terlnen.
Hindwing basal half creamy yellow
'with bl.ack veins, 'Outer half black with
a series of diffused blue spots and
marginal series of creamy-yellow large
crescent spots. Blue .. topped red spot
at tornus. Under side : Pale-cream
colour. Forewing with two transverse
short bands across the cell. Hindwing
veins prominently black. P. machaon
punjabensis Eimer is ,close to Papi/io
machaon asiatica Menetries that
occurs from Chitral (Pakistan) to
Kashmir and Tibet.
Upper 'Side Male
Wingspan : 75 ~90 mm.

Distribution: The subspecies is common from Punjab to Kumaon and ascends to about
16,000 feet in Himalayas. At low elevation it flies from March to September. Uttarakhand
Almora, Ba,geshwar, IChampawat, Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Rudra Prayag,
Tehri and Uttarkashi distri'cts.
KUMAR : Handbook 011 Common BlI.{/et:flies of ,UUarakll(l1ul ]7
8. Papilio paris paris Linnaeus

The Paris Peacock
1758. Papilio paris Linna,eus, Sysl Nat. (10.11 ed.) : 459.
'939. Popillo paris paris Linnaeus : Talbot, Fauna ql British India (Bultel1Ues) 1 : 150.
General Ecology : This beautiful and large Butterfly is very cOlnrnon in the wooded
regions .of evergr,e,en forests.. (t is abundant during the southw'est Inonsoon Inonths. Both
sexes visit damp patches, sOlnetimes settling with their wings held flat against the ubstratulTI,
It visits flowers .of Lantana and Citrus spp.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae, head, thorax and abdolnen black sprinkled with
green scales above.
Mate and female : Upp,e r side :

F.orewing bla'ck ,covered with gr,een scales
wi,th a narrow, short green discal band,
at tim'es abs'ent. Hindwing has a large
m,etallic blue patch at the inner edge,
large and sharply defined, ,evenly curved,
crilnson t.ornal spot and three sub-
rnarginal green crescent-shaped spots
above the tail. Under side: Dark brown.
The forewing has a broad grey band ,and
hindwingwith a cOlnplete series of
marginal bright ,crimson spots extending
upto the tornal ocellus, with a large upper
discal blue patch ,and ,a faint red cr,escent-
shaped spot near the ,c.osta.
Wingspan: 90- 140 mm. Upp'c r side I\'hlle
Distl"ibution : The subspecies ranges from KUlnaon eastwards to Orissa, and is COIHlnon
fr.om 5.,000 to 7,000 feet in Hitnalayas. Also oc'curs in Myanlnar. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun .
Haridwar, Nainital and Uttarkashi distdcts,
9, Graphiun, cloa.nthus cloanthu.s (W'estwood)

The Glassy Blue Bottle
184 L Papillo cloanthus Westwood, Arc. Entom., 1 : 42.
1939 . ,Graphium Clool1thus cloan(Iu,15 (Westwood) : Talbot. Fauna oj British Il.ldi,a (BlIllel:/lies) 1 : 229.
Gene~al Ecology : The Glassy Blue Bottle occurs in the hilly areas. It visits da'inp
patches, where m,ales can be seen ,congregating. It has a rapid 'flight and is fond of cir,cling
i8 Zoological Sun'ey of Indic,
round trees~ ,especially those on hi II lOpS. It is attracted to flowers of Buddleia and Horse
chest-nut.
Diagnostic ,Characters Antennae, head, thorax, and abdolnen dark brownish ~ black,
thorax with lateral dark grey pubescence, underside of palpi, thorax and abdomen touched
with dingy white, the abdomen ith three
lateral \fhitish stripes.
Male and female ,: Both sexes have

long tail. Upper side Forewing with the
entire area from below the cell through
posterior hal f of cel to apex, transparent
pale green; cell with two black transverse
bars; vein 4,5,7 and 8 bla,ckened hroadly.
Hindwing with four or five pale green
sub~marginal transparent spots on term en.
Under side : Hindwing with a series of
black centred red spots from the end of
the cell to anal angle. Male hindwing with
the fold grey on the inside and fringed
with a brush of long white hairs.,
.Wingspan : 85 .. 95 mm. Upper side Male
Distribution : The subspecies is common at low el,evation upto 4,500 feet, but also
recorded as high as 9,.000 fe,et in the Shilnla hills. It ranges from Kashmir to Assam , Also
occurs in Myanmar.Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Nainital, Tehri Rudra Prayag,
Chamoli, Almor;a, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts.
10. Graphium eu,r ous (Leech)

The Sixbar Swordtail
1899. PapUio eurolls Leech. Deser. New Indian Lep. Coli. Atkinson, 3 : 283.
) 983 . Graphium euro,us (Leech) : Hancock, Smithersia, 2 : 48.
General Ecology : This is an extremely local butterfly. These butterflies are found in
open places in fore, ted areas between 3000 feet to 8000 feet Males fly high around some
select,ed tree, often a number of them together, settling high up now and then, though
occasionally sweeping down low enough to be taken in the net. The females are not so Ii vely
and fly c'lose to the ground and often settle while searching for host plant on which they lay
their eggs.
Diagnostic Characters Male and fe.male : Upper side: Whitish ,abov,e, head, thorax and
abdom'en creamy whit,e. Fore'wing semi-transpar,ent with ten bla,ck bars or bands of 'which
KUMAR: H,a ndbook on Common Bulle rfUe~' of IU uarakhand 19
Upper side - Ma lie Under :s ide .. Male
the first, second and third marginal bands more or less reach the dorsum. Hindwing with
black tornal patch dusted with greyish blue and a double yellow spot in 1 and 2 above tbe
area. Under side : Hindwing with Inarginal black bands, a complete row of ,central pale
yellow spots of which tornal ones are yellow. Male with no scent wool in dorsal fo ld.
Wingspan : 60-70Inln.
Distribution : The species is distributed from Kashmir to Sikki'TI and orth-east India.
Also occurs in Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. Uttarakhand : Nainital and Uttarkashi districts.
11 . Graphium non,,;us IIomius (Esper)

The Spot Swordtail
1785 . Papilio nom;us Esper, Die, Aus. Scluneu. , : 210, pI. 52, fig . 3.
1932. Pathysa nomius nomius (Esper) : Evans, Idellt{{icalion of Indian Butfe'ilies, J. Bombay nal. Hisl.
Soc., 29 : 238, pi: 5, fig. A., 1932a. p, 54.
General Ecology: The Spot Swordtail is

most common in dry summer months in
deciduous forests. It occurs lnor comlTIonly
a ~ong streambeds or moist places in the forest
where the vegetation is green. It [s very fond
of settling in large numbers on damp roads
and wet mud during the hot w,eather. It is
also seen feeding at flowers . The fl ight .S
usually low, str,aight and fast.
Diagnostic Character~' : Head, thorax and

abdomen ,creamy white with black stripes.
Upper side-Male
20 Zoological Survey of ludia
Male and female ' . Upper side : Whitish above. Forewing with five dark bands and with
a broad dark rnarg in bearing a row of white rounded spots. Hindwing with broad outer
band containing white crescents and a patch of grey suffusion at the tomus.Unders'ide :
Whitish markings brownish nearly as on upper side. Hindwing with central red spots. Males
with cottony scent wool in dorsal fold. 'Tail long and black,
Wingspan : 70-90 mm.
Distribution: The subspecies is common in its rangle of distribution in peninsular India

to South Bihar, Madhya Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh, ,Himachal Pradesh and eastwards to
Sikkim and Assam, Also occurs in Myanmar. Uttar,akhand : DehraDun, I aridw,ar, Nainita'i
and Tehri districts.
12 . Graphium sarpedoll (Linnaeus)

The Common 8 ue Bottle
1907. Papilio saJpedol1 Linnaeus. Sys. Nat. ed., 10 : 461.
] 983. Graphium sarpedon (Linnaeus) : Hancock, Smilhersia. 2 : 46.
General Ecology: Tbe Common Blue Bottle is the strong,est flier of this group, settling
seldom and only momentarily and often difficult to catch. It feeds on nectar and visit flowers
hurriedly. The males often congregate in large numbers for mud-puddling. It occurs in the
evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. It is found mainly at low elevations.
Diagnostic Charact.ers : Male and female : Upper side: Wings brownish-black with a
short tail. Forewing with pale blue or greenish blue discal band running from inner margin,
narrowing anteriorly towards apex and ending in a sman spot just before the apex . Hindwing
with the band scaled with white, continue
from below the inner margin of for'ewing to
basal part of hiridwing, narrowing
postleriorly and with sub-marginal semi-
crescents shaped blue spoOts; costal part of
band whitish; scent fold on the inner margin
greyish. Underside : Brownish-black with
hand 'm or,e bluish than the upper side.
Forew' ng with slight indications of sub...
marginal spots before the tornus. Hindwing
with a red spot :at the base and the disc
with five red spots.
Upper side Male
Wingspan : 80 90 mm.
Distribution: The su species is common from Kashmir to Sri Lanka and commonest at
low elevations, but in South Indian hills and Himalayas,it has been recorded upto 9,000 fe,et.
Uttarakhand: Dehra Dun, Haridwar and Tehri dis·tricts.
KUMAR: Handbook 011 Common Butte/~t7ies of U((arakhalld 21
13. ParllQ,s sius h,ardwickei Itardwickei Gray

Common Blue Apol.lo
1831. Parnassllls hardwickei Gray, Zoo/. Misc. 1 : 32.
1932. Parnassius fl,ar.dwickei hardwickei (Gray) : Evans, Identific.atioJl of Indian Buttel/lies., J. Bombay nut.
Hist. Soc., 29 : 59.
General Ecology: The 'Colnmon Blue Apollos are h'igh altitude butterflies and rarely
found below 7,500 feet These butterflies are hardy and tough. They are strong fliers and fly
,close to the ground in the sunshine. They are found usually in open alpine cQuntry or low
growing shrubs and junipers. They visit flowers of Asters, Senecio. and Tll~axaCUln spp.
When the weather is cloudy or cold, and towards evening, they become very sluggish. ~the
femal'e is seen much less often than the male.
Upper side Male Under s"dc Ma c
Diagnostic Characters: Antennae bl,ack, with only a f w white specks; head with brownish-
yellow pubes,cence; thorax and abdomen densely cov'ered with long whit,e hairs, Inore or less
narrowly, ,also clothes, the inner margin of hind-wings. Male : Upper side : Wings crearny
white. Forewing with base and costal area d nsely irroratedwith black scales; a broad, short,
velvety black bar across lniddle of cell, another at its apex and a third beyond the apex, the
last mentioned bearing a spot of crimson; a crilnson-'c'entered black spot in middle of area
1; curved prominent post.. basal series of dusky black spots. Hindwingwith base and inner
margin broadly dusky black:; a crilnson centered black spot near base of area 5, and another
at middle of area 7, followed by a curved marginal series of blue spots ringed with black
and centred with white. Under side: Silnilar as upper side with a glossy appearance. Forewing
with markings visible froln the upper side. Hindwing with a brQad basal band above the
tomal angle; ,aU the crimson spots encircled by black rin,g sand following centred with white
spots in area 2 and 7 .and the basal andlnedian spots in area 7. Felnaie : Upper side: Shnilar
to male, forewing with the dusky black irroration more extensiv,e. The critnson spots larger,
with additional spots in area 6 of forewing and a pre-tornal sp'ot on the hindwing. Under side:
Similar to male but all the red spots much larger and centered with white.
Wingspan ,: 50 .. 65 min .
Distribution: The species ranges froln Chitral (Pakistan) to, KU(l1aOIl., and found between
7 500 feet to 13,000 feet. Uttarakhand: Ahnora, ChaJnoli, Nainital and Pithoragarh districts.
Zoological Slln'e.~ ollndi,(I
14. Gtaphillm agan,enlllolJ (Linnaeu )

The l'ailed Jay
] 758. Papi/io ,a gamemnon innaeus. Sysl. NOI .. (10 111 cd . ) : 462 .
1939. Graphillm agamemnon ( innaeus) Talbot, Fauna (?f British India (Bulle/~fljes) I : 229.
Ge';era/ Ecology: This is an extretnely restless black butterfly with yellow-green spots.
It starts it ~ activi,ty in the tTIorning and ,ends late in the afternoon. It vibrates it5wings
constantly while feeding . It regularly visits garden flowers such as Lantana, red 'flowers,
ixora, Mussaenda etc. It is not fond of visiting wet soil.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen black; thorax above ,and
abdolnen on sides streaked with greenish grey; the thorax touched with pink beneath.
Male and,female : Upper side Wings blackish-brown with yellow-green spots. Forewing
with a spot at extrelne base of costa, a tr.ansverse short bar near bas,e of cell, and seven spots
beyond , two spots beyond apex of cell; a spot at base of areas 1a and 1, fol owed by two
oblique short macular bands; .a discal series 'Of spots decreasing in size towards the costa,
and a post-discal series of smaner spots that begins with two in area 1., the spots in ar1ea 7.
Hindwing with a basal stripe, ,ending in .a pO'int in area I, a discal stripe interrupted at lower
dge of cell and not reaching
beyond the middle of area 2; two
post-discsl series of spots; these
Inarkings are white in area 7.
Hindwing with tail, which is long r
in the fe'male than in the male.
Underside: Paler, the green spots
partly covered with white or
brownish scales, both wings
clouded with violet gr,ey. Hind
wing between costa and cell has a
black cresClent, which is basically
margined with red between vein 8
and cell. Male with scent wool 'I n
the dorsal fold.
Upper . de Male
Wingspan : 85-100 mIn.
Distribution The species is comlnon from Kumaon to Assam. Also occurs in Myanmar.
Uttar,akhand : Dehra Dun H,aridwar, P.auri and Pithoragarh distri1cts.
KUMAR: Handbook on CommoJ1 Bllfle/~/7ies of UlfaraklIand 23
2. Family PIERIDAE
White and Yellows
The Inelnbers of family Pieridae are slnall to Inedium sized. They have a predolninance
of white and yellow colour, hence they are called 'Whites and Yellows' This family is
alnong the slnaller families of butterflies. 109 species are recorded in India.
The family is divided into two sub-falnilies; the Whites belong to Pierinae and the
Yellows, to Coliadinae.
These are sun loving butterflies especially males and sOlnetilnes found in large
congregations on river or strealn beds or damp patches during the hot weather, where they
are seen sucking Inoisture and salts. Females are Inostly solitary, preferring shady habitats.
The flight is usually slow, sluggish and close to the ground. They visit various types of
flowers and some species bask with their wings fully open and others partly open.
They are characterized by the presence of fully developed fore legs in both the sexes, the
inner Inargin of hind wing is channeled to receive the abdomen. Vein 1 b is present.
The seasonal and sexual variations are quite comlnon and well Inarked in some species
(Eurema, Catopsilia etc.).
They are distributed throughout the peninsular India and occur up to 15,000 feet in
Hilnalayas. The caterpillars are cylindrical, green or brown with stripes and pubescence.
They feed on plants of Brassiacae, Fabaceae, and Cappraridaceae.
Some common species of this family are Leptosia nina (Fabricius), Valeria valeria
(Fabricius), Delias eucharis (Drury), Pieris brassicae Doubleday etc.
24 Zoological Survey ollndill
Subfamily PI RINAE
15. Lepto.sia nilla nina (Fabricius)

The P:s yche
1793, Popillo nina Fabdcius, £nl, SysI" 3(1) : 3'14.
1939. Leplosia nil1,a nina (Fabricius) : Talbot, Fauna of British India (Buttct:lhes) I : 305.
General Ecology : This is a little, white butterfly with black marking on the wing tips.
The under side of the wings is faintly marked with green.. It can be identifi,ed from any
distance because of its typica'\ flight. It is a very weak flier and flies near the ground in the
under growth and bushes. When it settles, it sInks the forewings back into the hindwings.
Diagnostic Characters : Head br.ownish; antennae dark br.own, spotted with white; thorax
and ;a bdomen whitish.
Male and female: Similar. Upper

side : Wings white, the bases very
slightly powdered with minute black
s,cates. Forewing: 'C osta speckled
obscur,ely with black apex and .out,er
margin up to vein 3, black horder
wider at the apex; a very large, pear-
shaped black post-discal spot.
Hindwing: Uniformly white. Under
side: White. Forewing without black
apex and outer black margin; disc,al
black spot as on upper side.
Hindwing with very sl,ender greenish
striae and minute dots; striae on Upper side ... M,a le
hindwing coalesce into obscure bands.
Wingspan :30-50 min.

Distribution : This subspecies is widely distributed in lndi,a, ranging from peninsu aT
India to 6,500 feet in Himalayas, Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Evans
(1932) has recorded this species from Mussoorie; Talbot (1939) and Wynter.. Blyth
(1957) hav,e recorded this specie~ from whole of Peninsular India.Uttarakhand : Almora,
Dehra Dun, Haridwar" Pauri, Rudra Prayag, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Tehri and
Uttarkashi distri,e ts.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common BUller,fiies of Uttarakhand 25
16. Metapo.ria ~g,athon (Gray)

The Great Blackvein
1'831. Pieris agatholl Gray, zool. Misc. I : 23.
General Ecology: The Great Blackvein has a heavy floating flight and prefers open and
wooded country. They are very fond of Horse-ch stnut blossotns.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen black; abdomen beneath
white.
Male and female .: Upper side: Both the sexes ar,e black with white or dusky discal and
sub-marginal stripes on wings, cell of the hindwing white. Under side: Similar, the hindwing
at the base of costa bright yellow.
Distribution : 'T he species ranges from Kashmir eastwards through North-West and western
Himalayas . Wynter Blyth (1940) states that both the subspecies are common up to Garhwal
above 5,000 feet.
Following two subspecies are found in UUarakhand.
16a. Metporia agatho" phryxe (Boisduval)

1836. Pieris phryxe Boisduval Spec. Gen. Lep. 1: 446.
1910. Aporia agathon pJuyxe (Boisduval) : Fruhstorfer,ln : Seitz, .Macro/ep. Fauna ()llnd() ~Aust"" 9 ~ 139.
Diagnostic Characters : Male and

female .: Upper side : The whit,e ar'eas
predominate, with discal area white; the
dark black background forms stripes.
Forewing with a heavy black disco-
cellular bar Hindwing veins broadly
black and disco-cellular bar well marked
in female. Under side : Markings and
colouration as upper side. Hindwing with
the white stripes more constricted at the
middle. Upper s'dc Ma e
Wingspan: 80..90 mm.
Distribution : Kashmir to Garhwal; not rare.. Uttarakhand Haridwar, Rudra Prayag,

Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi districts.
26 Zoological SurveyoI illdicl
16b. Metaporia agathol' caphusa (Moore)
] 872. Me/poria c.aphusa Moore, Proc. z.ool. Soc. Lond., : 564.
Diagnostic Characters : Male andfelnale With ground colour black and darker than in
phryxe (Boisduval).Upper ~ ide : Forewing heavily dusted with black. Both wings with tbe
e,en whitish. Under side Paler, markings as on upper side' sub apical spots yellowish.
Under side Female Upper :s ide Female
Wingspan : 80-90 Inm.
Distribution : Mussoorie to Kumaon. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun, Haridw,ar, Tehri, Rudra

Prayag, Champawat, Almora, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts.
17. Metaporia le,ucodice s,oracta (Moore)

The Himalayan Blackvein
J857,. Aporia soractaMoore, In: Horsfield and Moore's Cat. Mus. E.l.C., 1 : 83.
] 907. Mel,aporia leucodice (moore) : Rober, In Seitz, Macrolep. Fauna Palaearctica, I : 4 L
General Ecology : This COlnlnon

butterfly found between 4,000 to 10,000
feet in May and early June. With the
occurrence of first rain, it starts
disappearing. This species is greatly
attracted by Horse-chestnut blossom on
which it may be se'e n feed 'i ng in great
numbers.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae black;

head, thorax and abdomen af'e white.
Upper side Male
KUMAR : Handbook on Common Blillerj7if:s of Ullarakhand 27
Male and female .: Upp,er side: W'ings Inilky white. Forewing with black veins. Forewing
with a post-discal black band, which is usually obsolete in area 3; a he,a vy disco-cellular bar;
a thin marginal black Hne from base of costa to base of inner margin, more or less interrupted
at area 1. Hindwing veins bla,c kand unmark,ed.. Under side : Forewing white; ,a pex and costal
edge paJ'e yellowish with black markings as on upper side but narrower. Hindwing p,a le
yellow., the pre",costalarea chrome yellow but the vein heavily marked.
Distribution: This subspecies is distributed from Kashmir through Hilnachal Pradesh to

Uttarakhand. Common at Mussoorie in May and June" Uttarakhand: Dehra Dun, Haridwar,
Nainital, Bageshwar andUttarkashi districts.
18. De/ias eucharis (Drury)

The Common Jezebel
] 773. Papflio ,eucharis Drury, Illustr. nat, Hisl., 2 : pI. 10, figs. 5, 6.
1881. DeJias eucharis (Drury) : Moore, Lep. Ceylon, 1 : 140, PI. 54, fig. 1., la.
General Ecology; A very beautiful butterfly, seen commonly ,around gardens and forest
edges. It is very fond of visiting flowers of Lantana camara, Anacarditan occidentale.,
Tridax procumbens, mango inflorescence and wild flowers. Females are known to fly higber
than the males in sear-ch of food plants to lay their eggs. Males frequently are found on
flowers or occasionally drinking from wet patches.
Diagnostic Characters : Head round and

somewhat flat, black with a white line; antennae
white, black tipp'e d ,a nd abdomen coloured a
gr,easy, greenish yellow-brown.
Male andfemale: Upper side : Forewing

whitish, the entire veins blackened. Under side
: Bright yeUowwith black veins and a marginal
series of orange red spots, which are roughly
pentagonal in shape. Female more heavily
'marked. nder side Fcm~,lc
Wingspan : 66 . . 85mm.
Distribution : It is the only widely distributed species of Delias in India, found everywhere
up to 7,000 feet in Himalayas and hjlls of Assam. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun., Haridwar, Almor,a, Bageshwar, Champaw,at, Nainital, Pauri, Tehri
and Uttarkashi districts.
28 ZOO/OgiC(I/ Survey (~( India
19. Delias belladolllta horsfieldi (Gray)

The Hill Jezebel
] 831. Pieris "o"~fieldi G.ray~ Zoo 1. .Misc., ) : 32
1925.De/ias belladonna horsfieldi (Gr,ay) : Jorden "On Delias belladonna H()r.~/leldi and a/Ued species
"Nov. Zool.. 32 : 285.
General Ecology It is a fairly l.arge, striking butterfly and v,ery common in the lower
v.alleys froln June to November. It is found in open areas, around fields, forest edges and
disturbed human habitations. They are fond of visiting dalnp patches and flowers of Lantana
Budd/eta, Horse Cbestnut, and Aesculu ' indicum. It is easily identified by the extensive
black, red and yeUowlnarkings.. Its flight is slow and lazy and can be rapid and irregular
on disturbance. Males fly close to the ground.
Upper side Male Under side Female
Diagnostic ,Characters : Male and jeJnaie ~ Ground colour of wings black with white to
pale cream coloured spots. Upper side: Forewing with cell spot at tbe end white; post. . disca\
and sub-marginal series of white spots. Hindwing 'with a large basal y How spot; ·a tarnal
yellow' patch and white inner area, post discal and sub marginal series of white spots.
Und,er sid'e : Forewing : Markings larger and more sharply defined than upperside, the
cell stripes on both wIngs prominent. Forewing with a bar across the discal end of the cell.
Hindwing : Basal spot in .area 7, cell end spot ,and inner area along with the tornal patch
entirely yeHow; post-discal series of spots, from above tornal patch to area 6., whitish.sub ..
Inarginal series of spots, yellowish, slnal1 and rounded froln beyond tornal patch to area 4,
and elong,ated in ar'ea 5 and 6.
Wingspan : 70...96 fnm.
Distribution : The subspecies is fairly common. Its r.anges from Hilnalayas to Kulu
(Himachal Pradesh) eastwards and common at 2;000 to 10,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand :
Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli, Nainita'l, Ahnora, Pithoragarh, Bag,eshwar,
Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
KUMAR: Handbook 011 Common Buttel:flies ,of Uuarakhand 29
20,. Allapha,eis aurota aurota (Fabricius)

The Pioneer
1791. Papilio aurolll Fabricius, Ent Syst., 3(1) : 197.
1932 . Anap.haeis auro,ta (Fabricius) : Hemming " The Butterfl i,es of Transjorden" Trans. Ellt. Soc
Lon.d.. 80(2) : 283.
General Ecology : 'This species is quite conunon, a strong flier and fond of sunshine.
Both sexes visit flowers, males found on damp patches.
Diagnostic ,Characters : Antennae black, sparsely dotted with whi te; head, thor,ax and
abdolnen white above. SOlnetimes thorax bluish-grey.
Under side ale
Male and f emale : Upper side: Wings white. Forewing with costal area to base of vein
11 dusky-black; a prominent curved jet-black disco-cellular bar.; a broad black api'cal area,
narrowing to vein 2.. Hindwing with a marginal black border froln vein 2 to 6, bearing four
round white spots in areas 2 to 5. Under side: Forewing similar to the upper side, the
markings more clearly defined and the apical spots larger. Hindwing yeHowish~white, aU
the veins very bro.adly bordered with bla'c k;areas 1,,2;6, and 7 with black cross bars:~m,arginal
bla,ck border with white spots as on upper side. Female: Reselnbles the male, but the black
Inarkings broader, white apical spots of forewing often partly obsolete on up'per side. Upper
side of hindwing varying from white (Dry season form) to yeUow (W,et season form), with
black veins.
Distribution : 'This sp1ecies is common throughout India, except ASSalTI, and ascends
to about 8,500 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand: Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Bageshwar,
Champawat, Pauri, Pithoragarh., Tehri, Uttarkashi, Nainital AI'mora and Udhaln Singh
Nagar districts.
30 Zoological Survey of '",d.ia
21. Ceporia .neriss,o phrYlle (Fabricius)

Tbe Common Gun
1775. Papillo p/uyne Fabricius, Syst. £111. : 473, pI. 2, fig. 7.
1'907. Ceporia neriss.a plllyne (F.abricius) = Bingham, Fauna of British India (Butte,ilies)" 2 : 18S.
General Ecology: It isa very activ,e butterfly, It tli,es among the bushes, grass and
dry dec'iduous forests of the plains and the low lying hills of India .It spends much titne on
flowers in search of nectar. In sum:mer, the males gather in large numbers on patches of wet
soil. It is most common between the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon months, the numbers
get decT,eased gradually towards the end of monsoon as well as in the dry season.
Upper s·dc :a le Upper side F'e male
Diagnostic Characters: Male: Upper side: Wings white. Forewlng with apical black area
bearing prominent white spots in the middle of area 2. Hindwing with outer marginal black
border dentate on the inner edge. Underside : yellowish-whit . Felnale : Upper side Wings
in male, with extensive blackish.. brown
markings. Forewing with a sub-marginal black
spot in ,area I b. Hindwing with sub-marginal
white spots within the blackish .. brown
marginal border; upper margin of cell
blackened, the outer vein less darkened than
on the for1ewing. Under side : Fof,ewing as .on
upper side. Hlndwing much paler. In Dry
season form, the black markings are reduced
in both the sexes. Wet season forms ar,e
heavily marked.
Wingspan : 40.-65 mm. Under side Female
Distribution : 'T he subspecies is common throughout the plains of India,ascending to

8,500 feet in the Himalayas. Also occurs in Myanmar. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun, Haridwar,
Tehri, Almora, Nainital, Tehri and Utlarkashi districts.
KUMAR: H,a lldbook ,o n Common ButterJUes of Uttarakha"d 31
22. Pier;s canidia indica Evans

The Common Cabbage White
1926. Pieris canidia indica Evans, J. Bombay nal. Hist. Soc.,3l : 312.
1939. Pieris canidia indica Evans, Talbot, Fauna of British India (Butterflies) 2 : 425-426.
General Ecology: This is ,a predominantly white butterfly, very 'c ommon at the edges of
cultivated fi,elds, grasslands, on roads, tea estat'es and vicinity ,a nd visits flowers of various
species.
Diagnostic Characters : Male and female: Upper side: Wings white. he apex of
forewing on the upper side is black with a few terminal black spots, a prominent black spot
in area 3, and one in 1b moOre oOr less
distinct. Hindwing with bla,c k marginal
spots and a costal spot. A large black
spot present in the outer half of the
forewing. Under side: Forewing
without marginal black; spots in areas 3
and 1b large. Hindwing with dirty white
and greenish scales. The dry season
forms are mor,e dusted with such scales.
The females have an additional discal
black spot on the upper side of the
forewing.
Upper s.l de Ma e
Distribution : 'T his subspecies ranges from North Baluchistan and Chitral (Pakist.an)
eastwards to Myanmar and is widely distributed in India and does not show much s,e asonal
variation. It flies from 2,500 to 12,500 feet in Himal,ayas. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun Haridwar,
Tehri, N,ainital, Pauri, Pithor,a garh, Rudra Prayag, Chamoli, Almora, Bageshwar, Champaw,at,
Udham Singh Nagar and Uttarkashi districts.
23. Pieris brassicae nepalensis Doubleday

The Large Cabbage White
1846. Pieris brassicae var. nepa/ensis Doubleday, Gen.Diur Lep., t : 9.
1939. Pieris brassicae nepalensis Doubled.ay: Talbot, Faun,a of British India (BlIlI(u:/lies) 1 : 427-428.
General Ecology: It is the commonest of butterflies. It is very bundant in the Himalayas.

This sub-species is mainly a hilly one but migrates to lower elevations and areas adjoining
Himalayas during extreme ,cold weather, but reappear in higher elevations when tbe w'e ather
in plains starts wanning up, and is available throughout the ye,ar. The flight of this subspe,cies
is stronger than that of others of the genus.
32 Zoological Surrey of India
Diagno.stic CI,aractels : Antennae bla'ek, the club tipped with white~ he,ad, thorax and
abdomen black, with SOlne white hairs; underside whitish.
Male : 'Upper side : Wings

,crealny- white. Forewing dusted
with black at the base and along
costa tor a short distance, apex
and outerlnargin above vein two
Inore or less broadly black, the
inner edge of this area with a
regular curve. Hindwing
Icre,amy .. white, unifonn, dusted
with black at tbe base,a large
black sub-apical costal spot, and
sOlnetilnes indi,cations of black
marginal s,c aling anteriorly.
Upper side Male Under side : Forewing white,
slightly dusted with black scales
at th,e base of cell and along
costa; apex light ochraceous-
brown; a large black spot ,in
outer hal f 0 f ar'ea 1, and another
quadrate black spot at the bas'e
of area 3. Hindwinglight
ochraceous-brown.,sely dusted
with black. Reselnbles the (nale.
It can be easily recognized by
the p.resence of two black spots
and a black streak on th,e
forewing . Under side: Hindwing
pale ochrae,eous-yellowish with
black scaling, black discat spots
on forewinglnuch larger.
Upper side Female Wingspan: 65·75 mtn.
Distribution: This sub . . species ranges froln Baluchistan and Chitral (pakistan) eastwards
to Assaln. It is very COlnlnon in Hilnalayas and plains adjoining Hilnalayas, ascending to
about 12,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand : R,ecorded from De~raDun, aridwar, Pauri,
TehrL, Rudra Prayag, Chamoli, Nainital., Pithoragarh andUttarkashi districts.
KUMAR: Handbook 01.1 Common BUlle/lUes o/Utlar.akltal1d 33
24. Pontia tiapli(lic.e Illo,or,ei (Rober)

The Bath White
J'904, P0l11ia d(lplidiceMoore, Lep. Indica. 4 ~ ] 37, pI. 521, fig. L l.a, J b.
1907. Lellcochloe daplidice moore; Rober, In : Seitz. Macro/ep Fallna Pa/eaearClicQ, 1 : 49.
Gene/~al Ecology : The Bath White is prilnarily a butterfly of the higher hills but Jnay
be found in the plains and is COlnlnon in the valleys of western H:imalayas. It is sun~Joving
and visits flowers of various sp ci s. It flies close to the ground and rests with the wings
closed. -
Diagl10stic Character'; : Antennae dusky black; head, thorax., and abdolnen fusco'Us-
black' under side of bead, thorax, ,and abdolnen white.
Upper side j\'l :,le nder side ale
Male Upper side : Forewing white with basal half of costa dusted with black~ a large
and quadrate black spot at the apex of the cell; api·cal and Jnarginal area above vein 3
broadly black with a series of white spots continued as fine lines to the outer lnargin.
Hindwing unifonn., the Inarkings of under side show.ing faintly through; base of both wings
black. Under side : Forewing white, markings as on upper side, but the apical area dusted
with grleen, the sub-Inarginal spot obscure; a black spot in the outer half of ar1ea J b. HindwJng
green with thr·ee curved series of white spots .in area 1 to 6; inner margin white; a round
white spot in lniddle of the cell, and other spot above it in area 7.
Female: Upper side: Forewing white with basal area dusted with black; a quadrate black
spot in the outer half of area 1b,with sometimes a short ll-defined black lines below it~
apical and lnarginal black broader than in the male, the sub-Inarginal spots blun'·_d and
obscure. Hindwing with a iargecostal black spot before the ap·ex, a broad, black~ sub-
Jnarginal inwardly curved band and Inarginal series of black spots connected by thin :lnarkil1gs
to the sub .. marginal band. Under side : SaIne as in the tnale but Jnarkings broader.
Wingspan : Male and female : 45 .. 50 Inln.
Dh;lrihuliol1 : The subspecies is distributed froln Baluchistan and Chitral (Pakistan)
through Kashlnir to west,ern H'ilnalayas, ascending to about 7,000 feet. Uttarakhand: Dehra
Duo, H,aridwar, Almora, Tehn, Bag1e shwarand Uttarkashi districts.
34 Zoologkul Survey of India
25. /xias marianne (Cramer)

T e White Orange Tip
1779. Papillo marianne Cramer Pap. £XOI., 3 : 41., pl. 2 17, figs. C, D~ E.
187 1b. Ixias Marielnne (Cramer) : Butler, Lep. EXOI,. 8 .: 253.
'Ge~r,alEcol()gy : It is the most striking of the scrubland butterflies. It is a sun-loving

butterfly that flies among bushes and small trees. It feeds on nectar froln flowers . The Ina)es
occasionally drink from damp patches. Female is seen v,ery much less frequently than the
male. It is more common during the monsoon and post monsoon periods. In sumrner, the
Inales gather on damp patches and feed in the company of Emigrants, Grass Yellows and
ime Butterfly.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae reddish~brown ; head at:'d thorax anteriorly with reddish-
brown hairs; thorax above with white hairs,; abdomen black; under s.ide of head, thorax 'and
abdomen white.
Male ,: Upper side : Wings chalk white. Forewing with broad apical half black; ,a broad
apical patch of orange extending f~om costa and narrowed posteriorly to a little below vein
2" Hindwingwith broad terminal black border.
Female: Similar to male. 'Upper

side : Forewing with orange patch
narrower, posteriorly truncated, not
,extended below vein 2; four btack
spots in the orange areas 2 to 5.
Under side : Bright sulphur-
yellowwith a few brownish spots on
the hindwing. Markings slightly
larger. Four black dots on orange
patch in areas 2 to 5. In both sexes
the rnarkings on under side are more
pronounced in the dry season Conn.
In winter season form, both wings
dusted with black :at the base.
Upper side Male
Wingspan ; 50-55 mm.
Distribution : The species is very comlnon throughout Peninsular India, ascending to

about 6,500 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand ,: Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Tehri, Almora, Bageshwar,
Nainital and Uttarkashi d istricts.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Buttelj7ies of Ullar,a khond .35
26. /xia!t' pyrene kausala Moore

The Yellow Orange Tip
1877. Ixias kausala Moore, AJln. Mag. llat. Hist., (4) 20 : 49
1939. Ixias pyl'ene kausala Moor'e : Talbot~ Fauna of British India (Butf,erjUes), I : 446.
General Ecology : h is a very ,common butterfly, flies in the bushes and shrubs at the
edge of forested ar,e as,with a fast and straight flight. It basks in the Inorning with its wings
open. It feeds on the nector of various spec'l~s .of flowers, also visits darnp pat1ches, str,eaJns
and shaded naUahs.
Diagnostic Characters: Male : Upper s:ide : Wings yellow, for'e wingwith costal and
api,cal area black and ,a large .orange band nearer the Icell than to apex, ,e.ntering the end of
the cell. Hindwing narrow with black
outer border. Under side: Pale yellow,
speckl,ed with fuscous-brown; row of
blackish-brown spots, more or less in
the form of ocelli. Forewing usually
with a black tornal spot.
Female: Upperside: Similar to

Inale but does not have orange band.
Under side : Pale yellow with brown
spots. Hindwing with the outer black
border wid'er than 'i ntbe male. Th'is
species also shows seasonal variation,
the dry season fonn with the border
being narrow or absent. Upper side Male
Wingspan: 50-80 mIn.
Distribution: The subspecies ranges from Baluchistan and Chitral (Pakistan) to KUlnaon,
ascending to about 7.,000 fe'et in HimalayasUttarakhand : Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Ahnora,
Bageshwar, Nainital, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts.
27. Valeria valeria hippio (Fabricius)

The Comman Wanderer
1787. PopUio hippia Fabricius, Man!.. Ins., 2 : 55.
1939. J.{aleria valeria hippia (Fabricius) : Talbot. The Fauna of British India (Bune~flies) I : 486.
General Ecology : It is found in ,areas of moderate to high rainfa.IL It inh,abits open

forests, dens'e scrub, and woodlands,. The characteristic wand,ering flight has rendered it the
name. Males fly untiringly, I to 5 lneters above the ground. Its flight is usually moderate,
36 Zoological Sun'cy '(~llndia
neith r fast nor slow, but when dislurbed it can be errati,c and fast. The felnales are nluch
less COlTIlnonly seen than the 1l1aies.
Diagno'tic ,C hal'acters
Antennae black~ head, thor,ax and
abdo.nen fuscous; the thorax
clothed with long bluish hairs;
under side of palpi, thorax and
abdolnen pale silvery bluish-white
Male Upper side Wings Shining
sky~blue. Forewing with costa
broadly and apex and outer rnargin
v'ery broad'ly black. Hindwi ng with
costal and inner Inargins broadly
whitish; ,o uter Inargin broadly
Upper ,side Male
black especiat1y at the apex. AU
veins blackened,. Under sid,e :
Forew ing pal le blue, the outer
lnargins obscurely fuscous; a suh..
Inarginal series '0f very indistinct
whitish [unulated spots. Forewing
\vith the vein broadly, bordered
\vith black. Hindwing with veins
6, 7and 8 broadly, the rest of veins
very narrowly, edged with black.
Fenu.t/e : Upper side: Bla'ek with
bluish white tnarkings. For,ewing
with two parallel streaks in the cen~
a s,eries of post-cleUular stripes,
vlery irr,egular in length.Hind wing
Under side Male b1.a ck; costa and inner Inargin
l
broadly white; cell with two narrow

str,eaks, joined at the hase; post cellular stripes ,and sub-marginal spots lnuch as '0n the
forewing, but much regular. Und,er sid,e : As upper side, but with ,the ground colour dull,
dusky, and dif~use, the margin broader but less clearly defined; apical area of forewing
dusted with white. Antennae, head, thorax, andabdotnen Inuch as in the tnale but darker.
Wingspan 65-80 m :m .
Distribution: The subspecies is comlnon throughout India, Myanmar and other parts of
the Oriental region. Uttanlkhand Dehra Duo) Haridwar, Tehri, Almora, Bageshwar and
Pauri districts.
KUMAR : Handbook on Common Butt(!I:/lies of Uttarakhand 37
Subfamily COLIADINAE
28. Catop~..ili(,
cro,cai,e (Cram'er)
The Common Emigrant
1775. Papilio crocale Cramer~ Pap.. EXOI., I : 87.
1990. Catopsilia croca/e crocale (Cramer) : Ghosh, Mondal& Chaudhary. Rec zool. SUf1~ Indi,a, 86( I) : 20.
General Ecology : A very cOlnmon butterfly found throughout the country, including
drier parts. Som,e tilnes swanns of this butterfly can be seen just ,after the monsoon. This is
a fast flier, rises high in the air, and cover long distances. The flight is straight w ,ith up and
down curves. His also known to Inigrate,. It is extrernely fond of settling on various species
of flowers like Lantana, Fiddle- leaves, Jatroph.a, POinsettia, 'C rape luyrtle, Pomegranate,
Bougainvillea and Sunflower etc. It also visits damp patches., sometilnes a large congregation
of these butterflies can be seen lnud puddling.
Diagnostic Characters : Male : Upper side: Wings chalky white, yellow or green ish
yellow. Fore wing with costa narrowly black to ' the base" wider at the apex. Iindwing
unlnarked rarely with marginal
b1.a'c k vein dots. Under side
without markings., yellow or
yellowish white,. Forewing often
whit,e in the post'e rior distal area.
Female : Upper side : Creamy
white to yellow. For,e wing with a
black disco-c,e llular spot, usually
forming a bar to the costa; costal
Inargin black froln base to apex;
an outer lnarginal black border,
'w ider at the apex. Hindwing with
outer Inarginal black border.
Under side: Similar to the lna le,
v,a rying to ochraceous buff.
Upper side Mil e
Antennae black.
Wingspan : 55 80 mIn.
Distribution: The species is very throughout India and ascends up to 8,000 feet
COITIlnOn
in Himalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka, Myanmar to Southern Asia . Utta~ak hand: Dehra
Duo, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri, Rudra Prayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Chall1paw,at,
TehriUttarkashi ,andUdhalTI Singh Nagar districts.
38 Zo%gical Survey of [ndill
29. Ca/opsilia pyra"the (Linnaeus)

The .A frican Emigr.ant
1758. Papilio pyronthe Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., (J Oth ed.) : 469.
1881a. Catopsilia pyron/he (Linnaeus) Moore, Lep.. Ceylon, 1 : 124, pI. 47, fig. 2,. 2a.
Geper:ai Ecology : This is an energetic and very common butterfly, which rarely rests
during its activity period. It is most active during morning and ,eady afternoon. It covers long
dist.anc,es in a single flight. On hot days the males gather in large numbers on wet soil. When
resting., the wings are closed over the back but the forewings are not drawn between the
hindwings . It is a r,egular migr.ant in the plains of peninsular India. It feeds on the flowers
of herbs and shrubs e.g. Lantana camara, Pomegranate, red gram, bitter gourd, Medicago
s'ativa and several other plants.
Upper side Male
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae reddish, head and thorax brown; abdolnen white;
under side of paJpi, thorax and abdomen white,.
Male: Upper side: Wings chalky white 'or greenish. Forewing with apical and Inarginal
narrow black border; a hlack disco-cellular spot, which tnay be absent. Hindwing with
marginal black dots or spots with a continuous narrow border. Under side : Greenish, w'ith
reddish-brown strigae and disco-cellular spots.
Female: Upper side: Wings greenish-white to greenish . . yellow. Forewing with black
border, and a black disco-cellular spot. Under side : Similar to male with proll1inent disco. .
ceHul,ar ring spots. Both wings with post-discal series of reddish brown spots.
Wingspan : 50-7'0 mm .
Wynter~B 'lyth(1957), Varshney (1997) and Larsen (1987) believe that Catopsilia jIore/la
is only a dry season form of pyranthe and hence there seems to be no justification to treat
Catopsi!ia. jlorella separately.
Distribution: The speci1es is very common throughout India, ascending upto 9,000 feet
in Hhnalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and South-east Asia. Uttarakhand : Dehra
Dun, Handw,ar, Ahnora, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Nainital, Paurl, Pithoragarh, Tehri, Champawat,
Uttarkashi and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
KUMAR: HO'tdbQok on Common Bulterflies of Uuarakhalld 39
30 . Gonepteryx rhamni nepalen,sis (Doubleday)

The Common Brimestone
1841. Gonepteryx llepalensis Doubleday, Gen. Diurn. £ep., J: 71 .
1907. Gonepteryxr rhamni nepalensis (Doubleday) : Rober, 111 ,: Seitz.. Macro/.ep .• Fauna Palaearctica. I
: 6 , t. 246.
General Ecology : The word

butterfly is derived from the buuer.. ,
yellow colour of the male of this
sp,ecies. It is very common in North-
West Himalayas. It flies in open
country and forest edges. Both the
sexes are fond of visiting flowers of
Marigold, Caltha palutsris, Gentian
sp. 'etc.
Diagnos~ic Characters : Antennae,

palpi ,and head above reddish brown;
thorax with dull yellowish grey hairs;
abdomen ,abovle bIa'ck, yellow on the Upper side M,ale
sides; under side of palpi, thorax and
abdomen yellowish-white.
Male .: Upper side: Wings sulphur-

yellow; an orange disco-cellular spot -
on both wings. Forewing with apex
·m ore falcate. Under side: Pale
yellowish green. Female: Upper s'de
: 'C reamy white. Forewing with apex
sharply produced and falcate;margina'
dots more distinct; disco-cellular spots
on both wings targer and brighter.
Hind wing toothed at vein 3. A dark
or.ange spot present at the end of cell
in each wing. Under side : Pale
Yellowish-white or greenish.
Under side Male
Wingspan: 60-70 mm.
D,i stribution: This subspecies is distributed from Chitral (Pakistan) to northern Myanlnar
and occurs from 2,000 to 10,500 feet in the NorthWest Hinlalayas.Uttarakhand . Dehra
Duo, Haridwar, Almora, Chamoli, Pauri, Nainital, ~ehri, Rudra Prayag and Uttarkashi
districts.
4'0 Zoological Sun'c) of India
31. Euren.a Jaeta Jaeta (Boisduv,al)

The Spotle.ss Grass Yellow
) 836. Tcrias laefa Boisduval. Spec. Cen. Lep., 1 : 674 .
1990. Eurem,a la,ela facIa (Boisduval) : Ghosh Mondal '& Chaudhary, Rec. zool. Sur". India. 86( I ) : 22.
General Ecology: A very common butterfly .of drier regions. It flies close to the ground
for very short distances and visits various flowers like Smithia sensitivex, Tridax, Vernonia,
Sida sp. and many more lowly growing flowers.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae yellow, with scattered dusky scales; head with pinkish
pubescence; thorax and abdolnen black with scattered yellow hairs ,and scales; under side of
pal pi, thorax and abdomen pale yellowish-white.
Male and female: Upp,e r side: Wings yellowish. Wet season fonn: Forewing apex and
tennen rounded and broadly black, but is not excavated between vein 3 and does not run
on the inner edge being unevenly rounded. Hindwing with narrow terminal black border,
Under side: DuUer ground colour. Both
wings evenly but sparsely dusted with
bIalck. Forewing paler yleUow.
Hindwing with black dots.
Dry eason/orm: Forewing pointed

and t'e rmen sharply cut and straight.
Upper side a rich brighter yellow.
Forewing with broad bla,ck apex and
tenninal border ·e nding at vein 2.
Hindwing darker on margin reduced or
absent Under side of both the wings
with pale yellow ground ,c olour.
Forewing with apical area and basal
half of costa dusted with pink scales.
Hindw'ing with a darker oblique line. Upper side Male
Distribution: The subspecies is very common throughout peninsular India, ascending to

about 8,000 feet-in North-West Hhnalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka. Uttarakhand : Dehra
Dun, Haridwar,Ahnora, Chamoli., Bageshwar, Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Tehri, Champawat,
Uttarkashi andUdham Singh Nagar districts.
KUMAR: Handbo,o k on Common BuUerllies of Uuarakhand 41
32. Eurema hecabe fimbriata (Wallace)

The Common Grass Yellow
1867. Terias fimbriata Wallace, Trans. ell I. Soc. Lond., (3) 4(3) : 323.
1932. Eurem,a hecabe jimbri.at,a (Wallace) : Corbet and Penl,ebury, Bull. Ra.D/'es Mus. Sing .. 1 : 160, pI. 5.
General Ecology : It is found aU over India and abundant in many places. It occurs in
large open patches in the evergreen forests, semi ~evergreen and deciduous forests and also
near the human habitations. It has a weak fluttering flight. Although it is named HGrass
Yellow", it is not dependent on grasses. It feeds mostly on small, low growing flowers of
plant species of the gener,a Cassl~a, Wagatea, Acacia, Serbania, A /hizzia, Caesalpinia etc ..
The males also visit da'mp patches and are a regular member of snud-puddhng assemblage.
It is most active in the morning and at noon.
Diagnostic Characters: Head with antennae greyish yellow, club black~ head, thorax and
,abdomen yellow, shaded 'with fuscous; under side of palpi, thorax and abdomen yellowish
white.
Male and female : Upper side: Wings bright yellow. Wet season form : Forewing with
black broad border ,and has an ,excavated between veins 2 and 4. Under side: Pal'er than
upper side. Forewing with a
prominent reddish-brown patch .
Hindwing with a slightly curved
sub-basal series of three spots. Both
wings with minut,e reddish-brown
costal and outer marginal t(~rminal
specks at vein ends.
Dry season form : Similar to wet

s'eason form. Border black and
narrow,. Under side: Markings on
both the wings reddish brown and
prominent.
Upper side Male
Wingspan : 40-50 .mm.
Distribution : The subspecies ranges from Punjab to KUlnaon, ascending to about 9,000
feet in North- West H'imalayas. Also oc,curs in Pakistan. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun, Haridwar,
Nainital, Paun, Alrnora, Pithoragarh., Tehri., Bageshwar, Chalupawat, UUarkashi and Udham
Singh Nagar districts.
42 Zoological SUI'l'C!.v of India
33. Eurellla brigitta rub-ella (Walla1ce)
The Small Grass Yellow
1867 , Terias rubella WaJJaee, r~ans. ell!. Soc. Lond" (3) 4(3) : 323 .
1939. Euy,ema brigilla rubella (Walla,ee) : Talbot, Fauna of British India (Buuer./lies). 1 : 515-517.
General Ecology : This is a very comlnon butterfly. t flies close to ground, around
bushes. It is a weak flier. Its congregation can be seen in the undergrowth . It vis;its low
growing flowers.
Diagnostic ,Characters : Antenna,e, head, thorax and abdolnen dusky black, the thorax
with some yellow hairs; under side of pa~lpi, thorax and abdolnen whitish-yellow.
Male and female : ypper side : Wings bright yellow. Forewing with apex and ternlen
broadly black with inner edge evenly rounded. Hindwing with the tennen broadly or narrowly
black. Under side : Forewing with costa narrowly edge w'th. pink; two well Inarked sman
black spots on the end cell. Hindwing with a spot at the base, foUow,e d by thr,e e transv1ers,eJy
placed spots and an elongate,
delicate, loop-like disco~cellular
spot; black above and below the
disco-cellular spot are slnall
diffuse bl,ack spots. Both the wings
with black marginal vein dots.
This species shows seasona I
variations. Wet season form has
broad black areas. The name
rubella . (Wallace) applies to the
dry season form. The dry season
tonn has more dusting and is
paler. The males have no sex
bands on the hindwing. Upper side Male

Distribution : This species is very common throughout India, ascending to about 12 500
feet in North West Him~layas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanlnar. Uttarakhand: Dehra
Dun Haridwar, Almora, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Tehri and
Uttarkashi districts.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Blittel/lie.'i of Uuarakhund 43
34, Colius electo field; Menetries

The Dark Clouded Yellow
1855. Colias .field; Menetries, Enum. Corp. Mus. Peu:. I : 79, pI. 1, fig. 5 (Male).
1939. Colias eJecto field; M'enetries : Talbot,f',auna a/British India (Buller/lies), I : 562.. 563,
Gen,eral Ecology : It is very

common throughout the Himal,aya.
It inhabits open hillsides and
hilltops and is a fast fl' er, visiting
various types of lo'w growing
flowers such as Taraxacum
officina/e, Gentiana carina/a,
Primal sp., Calhan pOll/lries etc. It
is most common between pre,-
monsoon and post-monsoon period.
Diagnostic Characters
Antenna,e, head and thorax
interiorly sa'imon pink, antennae
club darkening to brown; thorax and l PP"'r side Male
,abdomen dusky greenish-black.
Male : Upper side: Forewing
deep orange" inner margin broad
pale yeUow; outer margin broadly
black; disco-cellular spot pale
yellow in colour. Under side : Pal f,
the costal margin narrowly.
Hindwing overlaid with pale dull
gr,een and disco-,cel1ular spot large.
Fem,a Je: Upper side : Sam,e as
male, but borders spotted with
ground colour. H'indwing heavily
dusted with black scaling. Under
side.: As in the male. Unde side Male

Di~tribution : Tbe subspecies is distributed from Baluchistan through North-west and
western Himalayas to Sikkim. Also occurs in Nepal. Mondal (1984) recorded the species
from as high as about 16,000 feet in Tons Valley_Uttarakhand : Almora, Bageshwar, Charnoli,
Dehra Dun, Haridw,ar, Nainital, Rudra Prayag" Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar, P,auri,
Pithoragarh, Tehri and Uttarkashi distri'cts.
44 Zoological Survey .of India
35. Colia's erate erate ( Esper)

The Pale Clouded Yellow
J805. Papilio erale Esper, Die Schmetl., Suppl., 3 : 13, pLI19,fig. 3. (Male).
1880. 1(b), Colias erale erate (Esper) : Butler, uOn a collection of Lepidoptera fronl Kandahar" P,ne.
Zool. Soc. Lond.. : 409.
(kneral Ecology: It is a very busy butterfly, keeps const,antly on Inove, fluttering r,apidly
within a meter from the ground, It visits flowers. Both the sexes frequently settle to feed on
low growing flowers.
Diagnostic Characters : Male : Upper side : Wings lemon yellow. Forewing with a
small, oval., disco-cellular black spot; apex ,and outer margin broadly black, broadest at the
apex and narrowing to tornus; with or without yellow sub-tnarginal black spot. Hindwing
de1ep orange-yellow with disco ..cellular and broken lnarginal black spots.
Upper side Male Under sidt., :\1:lil:
Under slde ,e lnon yc110\V~ base and

costa of fore .. \ving and basal half .of
hindwing lightly dusted with black. Fore-
wing with disco-cellular spot as on upper
side. Both wings with cili.a and a Inarginal
line salmon ..pink. Female: Saine as .male,
but the ground colour on ei,ther sides paler
yellow or white. Forewing: Upper side with
sub-marginal spots larger and more
numerous than those in the males.
Upper side Female
Wingspan : 45 55 mm.
Distribution: This subspec·ies ranges from Baluchistan to ChitraJ (Pakistan) and Kumaon.
It has been recorded betwe'en 5,000 to 11,0.00 feet in the Him,alayas between March and July
before rain and then between November and March ·in the dry season. Uttarakhand : Dehra
Dun, Haridwar, ~ehri andUttarkashi districts.
KUMAR : Handbook on Comlnon Butterflies of Uttar,a khand 45
3. Family DANAI AE
Milkweed Butterflies
The members of this family are commonly known as Tigers, Crows and 'Tree Nymphs.
They ar-e large sized ,a nd tough, and leathery Butterflies possessing .an unpl,e asant smell and
unp,aletable juic1es. 'T he odour and unpleasant taste has been evolved to protect them from
their natural enemies like birds and lizards.
All the speCl'es are fond of visiting and feeding on flowers, most of them like resting on
damp patches, and ov,e r ripe fruits. They are sun-loving. They have a slow flight, feign death
when ,caught.
The males have special scent organs and also posses a pair of abdominal hair pencils. The
forelegs being imperfect unfitted for the walking in both the sexes ,c haracterize this family.
The cens are closed on both the wings No seasonal variation is observed in this group of
butterflies.
Talbot (1947) recorded only three genera viz. Danaus Kluk, Euploea Fabricjus, and Idea
Fabricius from the ndian region. The present study is re~erable to first two gener,a, the genus
Idea is not known from Western Himalayas.
Some common species of this family are EupJoea core core, D,anaus crysippus, Danaus
genutia etc.
36. Danaus chrysippus chrysippus (Linnaeus)

The Pia· n Tiger
1758. Papilin chrysippus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat .. (lOth ed.) : 471.
1947. ,Dana us cllrysippus cluysippus (Linnaeus): Talbot~ Fauna of British India (ButteJ:/lies) , 2 : 21.
General Ecology : It is the commonest of

,an the Indian butterflies and the strongest flier
of the genus Danaus. It flies in an undulating
fashion and generally remains on wing for
longer periods. It visits flowers of Lantana,
Jatropha, Ceylon Carissa, Common Zinnia,
Marigold, Sunflower, Radish and Barseem.
Diagnostic Characters: Antennae black;
head and thorax black, spotted with white;
abdomen ochra1c eous ,a bov,e and whitish
below.
Male and female : Upper side : Wings

reddish brown. Forewing with black borders Upper side Male
,and variable numbers of white spots in the costa and apex; api,cal half black, four white
spots from costa to vein 4; smaller white spots also inare,a 3 and at the eel end, on costa
and ,at the outer margin; veins not blackened. Hindwing: Ground colour paler; outer margin
narrowly black, with an incomplete series of white spots; with four small black spots
around the cen in mal,e ,and three in female and ,a pouch in m,ale, Under side: Dun orange.
Forewings dark brown in the upper half with spots in the black area. Hindwing with six
black tipots.
The fem,ale of Danaid Egg~ny (Hypolim.nas ,misippus) 'mitnics the Plain Tiger and it is
very interesting that mimic and the model are found together.
Wingspan: 70 .. 80 mm.
Distribution: The subspecies is very common throughout India, ascending to a height of
about 9,000 feet in H'imalayas. Uttarakhand : Chamoli" Dehra Dun, Haridwar,Ahnora,
Bageshw,ar, NainitaJ, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Tehri andUttarkashi districts.
37. Danaus genutia genutia (Cramer)

The Common Tiger
1779,. PapiliQ genutia Cramer, Pap. EXQI" 3 : 23, pI. 206, figs. C '& D.
1998. Danaus genuti,a genutia (Cramer) : M,ondal & Maulik, Fauna 0/ M~g"alay,a. State Fauna Series" 4
(Part-6) : 236.
'General Ecology: It is popularly known ,as the Monarch Butterfly all ov,e r the world.
Also known as uThe Common Tiger" It is ,a wen known migrant and found throughout India
in the areas of heavy rainfall, forest edges ,and scrub jungles. It visits flowers of Indian Chest
nut, Feather Cock's Comb, Zinnia, Cosmos and CadHla etc. It is known to tnigrate in large
numbers in the plains and hiUs of South India.
Diagnostic ,Characters: Antennae black; head
and thorax black with white spots and streaks;
abdomen orange brown, with white markings.
Male and female: Upper side: Forewing
reddish brown with bold black veins and white
apic,al spots cell end. Hindwing paler than
forewing bearing two compl,ete series of white
spots. Under side: Paler, Hindwing with more
prominent black lines along the veins.
Upper side Male
,Wingspan : 75 100 mm.
Distribution: The subspeci'es is available throughout the year, though less common in
,cold weather. When occurring in drier region, the orange brown p.art of the hindwing tends
to becom,e pal,er or whitish. It is found up to 8,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand : Chamoli,
Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Almora, Nainital Bageshwar, Rudra Prayag, Pauri, Tehri, Pithoragarh"
Champawat, Uttarkashi and Udham Singh Nag,ar districts,
KUMAR :H,a ndbook ,o n Common Butter,/lies of Uttarakhand 47
38.. Parantica sita (Kollar)

The Chestnut Tiger
1844. Donais sila Kollar, In: Hugel's Kaschmir find ,das Reich der Siek, 4 : 424, pI. 6.
1984. Parontjea sila sila (Kollar) : Ackery & Vane-Wright, MUkwe,e d Buuerjlies = ) 78.
General Ecology: It is fairly common along most of the Himalayas, and in the hills of
Assam. It is found in all sort of country. It has a high and soaring flight often well above
the tree level. It visits damp patches and also se,en on the flowers of chestnut tree, Cedrella
etc.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae black; head and thorax black, spotted with white~
abdomen from brown to bright ochraceous, whitish beneath.
Upper s,ide Male U der side Male
Male ,and female: Upper side: For,ewing black or fuJiginous black with the bluish white
sub-hyaline markings . The whole of cell and thr,ee-fourths of the basal area is filled with
broad bluish-wh'ite streak;ftve very large quadrate discal spots; two long sub-apical streaks;
three short streaks beyond cell; a sub-marginal series of rounded spots, decreasing in size
anteriorly, and curved inwards opposite the apex; an incomplet,e sub-marginal series of
smaller spots. Hindwing : Chestnut-red,with sub-hyaline streaks ,and spots, streak from the
base, in ar'e,a la, 1 b, not reaching the margin, two broad streaks in area 1 c,' united to near
their apex; a stripe filling the celL Male with two scent pouches, the largest on the area 'I
b and the smaller one in the I a. Under side: Markings similar, clearer ,and more complete.
Forewing with the ,apical area also chestnut brown .
.Wingspan : 85 ~ 11 °mm.
Distribution : The species is common from Kashmir to Sikk!m and AssaJn, ascending to
about 8,000 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Bhutan and Myanmar. Uttarakhand : ChalnoJi,
Dehr.a Dun., Haridwar, Pauri and Pithoragarh districts.
48 Zoological Survey of Illdia
39. Tirumala limniace ./eopa.r dus (Butler)

The Blue T· ger
1'866 . Dallais Iinmiace var. leopardus Buder, Proc. .zool. Soc. LOl1d., : 2, fig. lO (Female).
1984. 1iru.mala limniac.e leQpardus (Butler) Ackery & Vane-Wright. Milkwe.ed Blilfe/~flies : 1'9 8.
General Ecology: It is a large sized and very com:mon butterfly found throughout the
p1:ainsand hills of lndi;a. It flies slowly, but faster during migration Qr when disturbed. It
settles frequently on wet places. t is mainly an inhabitant of woodlands, gardens, edges of
forests etc.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae black; head and thora.x blackish with white spots and
streaks; abdomen dusky black.
Male and female : Upper side

Forewing black 'with irregular white
or pale blue spots and streaks. e 'eU
with a single narrow streak at base
and a large indented whit,e spot
beyond it, two white streaks below
the cell. Hindwing black with irregular
bluish-white spots and streaks. Streaks
in the c1ell broad and forke.d. Under
side : Markings similar as on upper
side. Forewing dusky black at basal
two . . thirds .and olive brown apically.
Hindwing olive brown. Male with sex
pouch in interspace. Upp~r side Male
Wingspan .: 90- \ 00 mm.
Distribution : The subspecies ranges from Baluchistan and ,Chitral to Kum,aon, West
Bengal and Sikkim, ascending to 5,000 feet in Himalayas. Also .occurs in Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Myanmar Sumatra, Thailand and Vietnam. Uttarakhand
: Dehr.a Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Nainital and 'Tehri districts.
40. Tirumala ·hamata septentrionis (Buder)

The Dark Blue Ti·g er
1874. Danais s,eptentrionis Butler, Ent. Mon . Mag ., It : l61.
2006. nrumala hamata septentrio.nis (Butler) Gupta .& MauUk, Fauna .o f N~galand. Slate Fauna Series,
12 : 283.
KUMAR : Handbo,ok ,oil Common Buuerflies of Uttarak/l.and 49
General Ecology: It is ,a very 'common butterfly throughout the hilly and forest region.
It is found throughout the year but commonest at low elevations during wet weather. It is
a slow flier and visits lnoist places. It visits flowers and can be seen feed'ing on flowers of
'Cirsium species.
It closely reselnbles Tirumala liminiace (Cramer), but is always sufficiently distinct to be
easily recognized, even on the wings.
Diagnostic Characters: Male and female: Upper side: The back ground colour of wings
is dark and semi-hyaline markings narrower and 'Ofa bluish~whit,e It int. Forewing with two
narrow streaks In area 1 b, nev'e r
coalesc,ent, the upper one fonning an oval
detached spot; the short streaks above vein
5 are outwardly never truncate, ,always
acute. Hindwing with two cell streaks
united at the base but s'eparate distally.
Under side: Darker than in T. limniace

leopardus. Male with a pendulous pouch
on hindwing, in are,a I c.
Wingsp.an : 80 . . 105 mm.
Distribution: 'The subspecies is fairly comlnon in Himalayas, ranges froln Kulu to Assaln,
ascend'jng to about 8,000 feet ,and Nagaiand, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Jamlnu
'& Kashmir, Sikkim, West Beng.al ,and Darjeeling. Also occurs in Bhu.tan, Chjna,Malaya,
Myanmar, Nepal, Sumatra, Taiwan and Thailand. Uttarakhand :Almora, Dehra Dun, Haridwar
Nainital, Pithoragarh, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts.
41. Parantica aglea m,eianoiaes Moore

The Glassy Tiger
1883. Pa~ant.ica melanoides Moore, P/~QC. zoo!. Soc. Lond., : 247 .
•'984. Parontlea ag/ea melan.oides Moore: A1ckery & VaneeWr.ight, Milkweed BUlle/file.,., : J 75.
G,enerai Ecology ~ A transparent blue-brown buttertly of hilly regions, mostly :in areas of
heavy rainfalL It is a weak flier as compared to other Tigers and com,es out of for,ests 'Only
to visittlowers o{Lantana, Ageratum etc. It is a known migrant and frequents dalnp patches
occasional (y.
Diagnostic ,Characters : Antennae black; head ,and thorax black, spotted with white.;
abdomen bla,ckish-brown, ochraceous beneath.
50 Zoological Survey of J"dia
Male and female : Upper side Wings dark brown. Forewing with bluish-white semi-
hyaline streaks and spots; cell streak divided lengthwise into two portions, and united at
base~wjth black lines traversing throughout; most spots progressively decreasing in size; a
marginal series of spots much smaHer and
placed in pairs between Veins. Hindwing
streaks long and broad; the ceHwith two
broad streaks which are united at base; str~ak
'in inner area and below the cell, long and
narrow; other spots larger in post-diseal area
but decreasing towards margin. Males with
a larger scent pouch on vein 2. Under side
: Dark brown, the streaks are often Inuch
blurred.
Upper sideM,a le
Distribution: The subspecies is fairly common from Kashmir to Sikkim and Assam,
asc,e nding to about 8,000 fe·e t in Himalayas. Also occurs in Myanmar. UUarakhand : Dehra
Dun, Haridwar, Tehri, N,a inital, Champawat, Udham Singh Nag,a r and Uttarkashi districts.
42. Euploea core core (Cramer)

The Common Indian Crow
1780. Papilio core Cramer, Pap. Exot.., 3 ; 133, pl. 266, Figs. EF.
]947. Eupolea core core (Cramer) Talbot, Faun.a of British India (Bullerflies), 2: 66.
General Ecology: This glossy brown butterfly is very common. It Jnay be seen sailing
lazily in aU types of country and flying about shrubs and bushes in s,e arch of its foodstuff.
It visits low growing flow,e r plants, i.e. Lantana, ,C ommon Zinnia, MeyenlQ /axijlora, marigold
etc. Even if disturbed, it does not usually flyaway and even if takes off, soon returns to the
same spot It generally flies during early morning and evening and rests in groups during
afternoon.
Diagnostic Characters : Male and female

Upper side: Wings glossy brown with marginaJ
and sub-marginal white spots either equal or
decreasing in size. Forewing much darker than
hindwingwith short bands. Under sIde: Light
brown with markings similar to that of upper
side, and a white spot at the end cell of tbe
forewing is prominent.. The male often sails
with its curved abdomen and extended powder
puff~1ike yellow hair p1enci\s. Upper side Male
KUMAR: Halldbo,o k on Common 8utl(!/~f7ies of Uaarakhand 51
'This butterfly is mimi'cked by Chilasa clytia Linnaeus, and fetnale of Hypolilnnas bo/inu
Linnaeus.
,W ingspan: 8.0-95 min.
Distribution : The subspecies is very common throughout India at altitude below 8,000
feet.. Uttarakhand : Almora, Chalnoli,Dehra Dun, Nainital, P,auri, Pithorag,arh, Bagesh'war,
Tehri, Champawat, Uttarkashi andUdhaln Singh Nagar districts.
41. Eup/oea mulciber mulciber (Cramler)

'The Striped Blue Crow
1777. Papilio mulciber Cram,er, Pap. Exo( .• 2 : 45. pI. 127, figs. C-O.
1911. Eup/oe,a mulciber mulc.iber (Cramer) Tytler, J. Bombay nal. l-lis.t. Soc., 21 : 4<) ,
G,e neral Ecology: It is

,commonest of the Danaids. It flies
about 1-6 meters above the ground.
Females may fly lower over bushes
and shrubs,. It can be found in almost
,all types of terrain and forested areas.
They are also attracted to ,cow dung,
urine., salt sources, w,et rocks and
damp patches. De Niceville (1897)
has repoted it in swarms at times.
Upper side Female
But no migration of this species has
been recorded so far.
Diagnostic ,C haracters
Antenna'e , head, thor,ax and the
abdomen dark brown .; abdom1en
glossed with greenish blue above;
head, thorax and ,abdom,en beneath
with white spots and transversle'ly
banded.
Male: Upper side : For,ewing

glossy-bialck, with blue spot and with
pale terminal., .marginai and discal
spots. Spot in ,end clell present. Upper
Hind wings unspotted except for ,a Under side Female
light brown scent- patch. Apical half
has greyish scales and a small yellow
patch of specialized scales.
52 Zoological Sun','), of Indi(1
_pper side Male
Under side Male
Female : Upper side : Pale and similar to lnaie, except on the hindwing narrow white
discal streaks, spots silnilar but white. Forewing blue glossed areas are similar. Under side
: Markings as on the upper side but clear, distinct and broad.
Wingspan : 90-100 rom.

Di'~tribution
The subspecies is common from Kulu to Assam and Madras to West
B,engaL Also common in China, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar., Nepal., Sumatra and Vietnam.
Uttarakhand : DehraDun, Haridwar,Nainital, Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Udham
Singh Nagar, Pauri and Tehri districts.
KUMAR: Handbook 011 Common Butt,er/lies of Uttarakllal1d 53
4. ami y ACRAEIDAE
'Members of family Acraeidae are smaU to medium-sized butterfli'es. They ar,e tawny or
yellow in colour. They are mostly distributed in Africa. Only two species are known to occur
in India viz Acraea issoria (Hubner) and Acraea vioJae (Fabricius). Both of them .occur in
Uttaranchal.
The forewings are long and hindwings rounded, fre,e from the abdomen along their inner
margins, not channeled to receive it.
They love sunshine and visit various flowers. They are weak fliers. They fly close to the
ground and often seen basking early in the mornings. Like Danaids, Acraeids are also well
protected, and when in captivity, the species ,eject a sort of protectiv,e, oily, yellowish evH-
smelling fluid, which is obnoxious to predators.
In both the sexes; the forelegs are unsuitable for walking; the cells are closed in both the
wings. Anal veins are free in forewing..
44. ACTaea issoriaaltomalaKollar

The Yellow Coster
t 844. Acraea anomala Kollar, In : Hugel's .Kaschmir und das Reich de,. Siek, 4(2) : 4'5, pI. 3, flgs.
3, 4.
1910. Acraea issoria ,anolnala Kollar, The Butterflies of Kumaon, Part~ l, J, Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 20
; 141.
General Ecology :A localised rapidtlier but when at r,est can easily be captured, It is
fond of sett ing on leaves and flowers. It inhabits open and scrubby country. Sun loy' ng, can
be seen basking early in the morning.
DiagnosticCh.aracters : Antennae, head., thorax and abdolnen black and thorax vvilh
ochraceous yellow pubescene,e anteriorly~ under side of thorax and abdonlcn black and
spotted with a very pale ochraceous spots.
Male and female: Upper side: Wings

yellow brown. Forewing with the veins
along the costal margin broadly, and
apical half of those along the outer mar-g in
narrowly, black, decreasing in width
towards tornal and transversed by an ante...
marginal series of smaH spots of ground
colour. Hindwing bearing spots of ground
colour and the sub marginaJzigzag line;
outer area with lnarginal wavy black line .
UpPN' ' id~ l\lulc
.54 Zoological Survey of Ilrdia
Underside of forewing yellow, becoming paler towards the apex, the veins much darker,
and the black disco-cellular mark showing through. Hindwingwith ground colour a delicate
pinkish-white" the veins ,conspicuously black; sub-marginal line lunul,ate, edg,ed with black
on inner as well as outer margIn. The Inarkings of female are usually darker than the males.
According to Peile (t 937) the species is abundant at Mussoorie in the month of June at
3,000 feet. .
Wingspan : 45 .. 65 mm,.
Distribution : The subspecies ranges from Kulu to KUlnaon between 3,000 to 6,000 feet.
Uttarakhand : Ahnora, 'C hamoh,Dehra Dun, Haridw,ar, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital,
Rudra Pr,ayag., Tehri and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
45., Acraea violae (Fabricius)

'T he Tawny Coster
177.5. Papilio violae Fabricius, Sysl. Enl.• (3) I : 460 no. 74.
1947. ACl'aea viQ/ae (Fabricius) : Talbot, The fauna of British India (Buttc.1:flies),. 2 : 466 ~469 .
General EcoJ~gy : This yel1owish .. brown butterfly seen during the latter part of June
becomes most abundant in July between 2,000 to 7,000 feet. A localized butterfly, seldom
straying far from its food plants. Its flight is very slow) fluttering and close to the ground.
Often found basking in the early morning hours,. It is Fond of settl ing on leaves and flowers
of Land-Caltrops, Lantana, Tall chaste, Monk's Pepper tree, etc. It inhabits open and scrubby
country but not forest. It excudes ,a yeHowish, fou)..slnelling, oily liquid when disturbed.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae black; head and thorax black, spotted with ochraceous
,and white; abdomen ,anteriorly black, posteriorly ochraceous yellow with black lines. Under
side of palpi, thorax and ,abdomen ochraceous; thorax spotted 'with ochraceous, abdomen
with basal longitudinal black lines.
Male : Upper side : Wings tawny_
Forewing with a transverse black cell
spot; an irregular disco cellular black
bar; post.. discal black spots in areas I b,
3, 4, 5, 6, ,and 10, those in 4 to 6
parallel to end of cell; apex and outer
margin narrowly black, narrowing
posteriorly, and with short projections
on the veins. Hindwing with a basal
lines of four or five black spots, a
similar spot in the middle of cell, and
a sub-costal black spot above it· ,a discal
seri'es of ObSCUf'e blackish spots; a Upper side Male
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Blltte/~f1ies of Ullarakhand 55
minute post-discal black dot in areas 4 and 6; a broad black marginal border, bearing a
sub-marginal series of small spots of the ground colour. Under side : Ochraceous-yellow.
Forewing: Paling to whitish on the apex, with black markings as on upper side, but more
clearly defined; sub-marginal spots much larger, white, not tawny; base of wing black,
separated from the basal black spots by two or three larger whitish spots.
Female : Silnilar to male. Upper side : Ground colour duller, the black spots on both
wings larger, upper post-discal spots on forewing often coalescing, and fonning an irregular
oblique short band; marginal black border on both wings proportionally broader. Hindwing
: Sub-marginal spot larger and whitish. Under side: Paler and duller, markings as on upper
side, spot on hindwing well defined.
Wingspan : Male and felnale : 50-65 Inm.
Distribution : Peninsular region to Punjab and the lower altitudes of Himalayas upto
7,000 feet, West Bengal, Bihar and Sikkim. Also occurs in Sri Lanka. Uttarakhand : Dehra
Dun, Haridwar, Almora and Bageshwar districts.
56 Zoological Survey ollndia
5. Fami y SATYRIDAE
Browns
Melnbers of the family Satyridae are usually dun brown or blackish in colour, occasionally
with yellowish or white patches on wings. Under side often ocel1ated and beauti Cully
vari,egated. The flight is weak, slow, and Jerky or bouncing, rather close to the ground
littered with dead fallen leaves.
Some species particularly in hilly regions, prefer open meadows and grasslands with
slnall herbs, shrubs and bushes. They are 'less dependant on sunlight than the gaudy coloured
butterflies" often seen on the wings even on cloudy and rainy days when no other butterfly
usually venture to corne out.
The species mostly feed on grasses including bamboos. Most of the species do not visit
flowers but are attracted to over-ripe fruits, sap and salts like Com'moo Evening Brown, even
get attra,cted to light.
The forelegs in both the sexes are very small and unfitted for walking and cell closed in
both the wings.
Seasonal variations are best known in this family, particularly in Evening Brown where
no two specimens in the dry season look alike and appear like dead leaves" often with fungus
like markings,looking all the more natura].
Some common species of this family occurring in the State are Mycalesis perseus
(Fabricius.), Mycafesis mineus mineus (Linnaeus.), Lethe maitrya (de Niceville), Lethe confusa
con/usa AuriviUius, Lethe verma verma (Kollar).
46. Mycalesis perseus blas';lIs (Fabricius)

The Common Bu:shbro\vn
1798. Papillo blasills Fabricius, £111. SysL,

(Suppl.) : 426.
1947. Mycalesis persell blasius ( abricius) .:
Talbot, Fauna British India. BUller/lies) 2 :
132-133.
General Ecology : This butterfly is

commonest of the group found in wetter
and dens,e forested areas.. Thes,e are very
shy butterflies with w,e ak flight. When
disturbed, fly ,close to the ground for short
distance and s,etties in the undergrowth.
Males occasionally seU]e on damp patches,
prefer, tre,e sap and roOtting fruits as Food.
Upper side 1\1alc
KUMAR ': Handbook 011 Common Bunerflies (~r Uuarakh(Jud 51
Diagnostic Cha~acters: Antennae brown above, greyish white below the ,Club tipped
with ochraceous; head, thorax and abdomen brown, paler beneath.
Mal,e and female : Upper side For'ewing with an ocellus in area 2. Ground colour of
both wings dark to pale brown. Both
wings with a pale sub .. rnarginaJ and a
marginal line, placed ,close tog _ther, and
obscure on forewing. Underside = Both
wings with ground colour as on upper
side and ,crossed by a narrow, dis-caL
bluish white line, its inner side edge
with darker brown; sub-marginal and
marginal lines paler.
Under side of forewing with a ,curved

series of four oceHi in area 2 to 5.
Hindwing with seven. ocelli enclosed
w:ith a pale line, as on forewing. The
nam'e blasius (Fabri,cius) applies toO the
wet season form. Under side 1\1ale
,Wingspan : 38-55 mm.
Distribution: The subspecies ranges fr'Om Kangra (HiJnachal Pradesh) to Myanlnar and
ascends to 5,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun, Haridwar and Udham Singh
N,agar districts .
47. Myca.lesis m;neus .nl.ineu~'

(Linnaeus)
The Dark Band 'Bu hbro\vn
1767. P.apilio m;rzeus Linnaeus, Sysl, Nal. () 2th cd,), t (2) : 768.
1947. Myca/,esis mineus mi.neus (Linoaeus)

: Talbot, Fauna of British india,
BUllerflies, 2 ; 134 ~ 136.
General Ecology: It is commonest

butterfly among Bush Browns and
found in hiHs and plains.
Diagnostic Characters : Antenna,e,
head, thorax and abdomen brown;
antennae club with black and
ochraceous mark.
Upper side ""lalc
Male and .fe.1nale Upper side of wings dark hro\vn; boOth wings with sub-Inarginal and
luargina\.,lender, pale lines. Fore wing with a single 'white centred fulvous ring. black
oceJlus in area 2; SOIne times a siJnHar slnal'ler ocellus in area 5, without any pale surrounding
area. Hindwing unmarked, sometimes\vith one or t\\"o obscure ocelli.
Under side : Deep brown; both

wings with a discal, dusky white
band., well defined inwardly, diffuse
outwardly; a post discal series of
ocelli, surrounded by a dusky
yellowish line; these ocelli vary froln
2 to 4 on the forewing and 5 to 7 on
hindwing; posterior four oceUi on
hindwing are 'in a straight line, one
in the area two is the largest and 4,
5 are the slnal1est
Wingspan : 45-50 mm. Under ide Male
Distribution : The subspecies is generally COlnmon froln Kulu to Myanmar and ascends
to about 6,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand : 'DehraDun~ Haridwar Alnlora, Bageshwar,
Nainital and Pauri districts.
48. Lethe confus'a con/u.sa Aurivillius

The Banded ree rown
1898.. Lethe cOf!fusa Aur:ivil1ius, Ell I. 1idskr.. 18 : 142.
1932a. Lethe C01~rUsa C01~rUsa (AuriviUiu') : Evans, Ident~fic,alioll 0/ Indian BUllelllies. 2 : lOS.
General Ecology : Very COJurnon species, fond of visiting moist pat,ches and salt
encrustations. It has territorial habit very aggressive towards intruders. R,e sts with its wings
cJos _d and hardly seen basking.
Diagnostic ,Characters : Antennae, head,
thorax and ,abdomen du 11 brown.; ant,ennae
tipped with ochraceous.
Male and fel1tale : Upper side: Wings

brown. Forewing with discal, oblique,
curved, white band; two sub-ap'i cal,
obliquely pla1ced, white-spots. Hindwing
unifonn, ocelli of underside showing
through. Underside: Uniform brown; both
wings with sub-basal, sub ~m.argln.al and
lJppcr side ;\'1ale
KUMAR: Handbook 011 Common Butterflies of Ullarakhalld 59
Under side Male
marginal sinuous lalaeine white lines. Forewing with discal white bar as on upper side, a
sub-apical lilac patch bearing three ocelli in straight line and wi th a very short white bar
joining it with the costa. Hindwing with two medial lilac Jines meeting on the dorsal margin
,and a strongly ar'ched seri'es of bla,ck 'Ocelli with white specks in centre, an inner ochraceous
ring and outer lilac ring, the api,eal ocellus very large.
Wingspan : 50-55 Inm .
.Distribution : The subspecies is common in its range fr'ornMurree (Rakistan) to Sikkim

and Assam, found betw'e,en 2,000 to 7,500 fe,e t in Kumaon hills. Also oc,curs In
,Myanmar..Ut'tarakhand : Dehra Dun, Almora and Bageshw,ar districts.
49. Lethe ins.ana insana (Kollar)

The Common Forester
1844. Satyrus insana Kollar, In : HugePs Kaschmir Imd das Reich del" Siek, ,4 (2) : 44R, pL 16. ligs. ~.
4.
) 9 ) I. Lethe insana insana (Kollar) : Fruhstorfer, In

: Seitz. Gross-Sell/lIeU. der Erde, Fauna lndo-
AustraL, 9 : 317.
General Ecology ': The Cornmon Forester

s'een from April to 'October in the Himalayas,
rather uncommon west of Mussoorie. Its
flight is slow, often settles, esp,ecially along
earthy banks on roadsides .
.Diagnostic Characters : .Ant,ennae, head.,
thorax and abd'Omen brown; antennae
annulated with white. lJ ppcr sid,e 1\ h\h:
60 Zoological Survey ollndia
Male : Upper side : Wings brown to dark brown. Forewing with discal band showing
through from below; two sub-api< c al, small ochraceous spots. Hindwing uniform, a post..
discal, curved series of four round black spots, the apical spots sometianes elongate; sub-
marginal and marginal slender black Hnes. Under side : Paler. For< ewing with basal h:a1lf
darkest; a disca1, broad, oblique pale bar, a sub-apical, short, narrow band bearing three
white centered obscure, small ocelli. Hindwing with ,a sub-basal, discal and sub-tnarginal
slender brown lines; a curved post discaI series of black ocelli 'w ith white-ce:nter~d ix ocelli,
each ocellus with inner ochra< ceous and outer paL nngs.
Female: Upper side; For<ew i ng

with a broad, oblique white band
not quite reaching the tornus and
the sub-apical spots white.
Underside: Whitish band as on

upper side, margined inwardly by
irregular shading, and out-wardly by
a triangle of dark brown; outer
margin broadly pale yeHowlsh-
brown with thr< ee small ocelli in
vertical order, Hindwing as in the
male.
< nder side Male
Distribution : The subspecies ranges froln Chamba (Himachal Pradesh) to Kumaon.

According to Pei1e (1937) the male is not uncommon at Mussoorie in the nallahs at 5,000
to 6.,000 feet, the female very scarc<
e .Wynt<er-Blyth (1940) found the species comlnoniy
occurring in the middle of September at Sungri, (8,500 feet). Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun,
Al mora., Chamoli, Rudra Pr,ayag, Nainital, Bageshwar and Uttarkashi distri,cts.
50. Lethe jalau,rida jalaurida (de Niceville)

The Small Silverfork
1880. Zophoessa jalaurida de Niceville, J. Asiat. Soc. Beng., 49(2) : 245, pI. 10, fig. 19.
1911. Lethejalauridajalaurida (de Niceville) : Fruhstorfer: In Sellz.Grass-Sclunett. der Erde. Fauna lndo-
Austral., 9 : 313.
General Ecology: A buUerfly of bamboo forests; occurs in the North-west Hirnalayas

from April to October and flies ,c lose to the ground, sometimes settling on flowers, roadsides
and forest paths.
Diagnostic Characters: Antenna< e, be,ad, thorax and abdomen brown, pale ochraceous
beneath. Male and .felnale : Upper side: Wings reddish-brown with a silky gloss. Forewing
KUMAR: Handbook on Common BUlleJ:lhes(~l Ullarakltal1(/ 61
with an ochraceous-white broad bar

in the cell, and a discal zigzag
macular band, ochraceous,-white the
cell bar edged on both side and the
discal band on the inner side, with
diffus1e dark brownish-black; a short
sub-apical spot, ending below in three
faint small spots and a broad sub-
terminal dark band. Hindwing with a
post-discal, dusky black band; a
discal, broad, pale band, be,aring a
curved row of five round black spots;
,a sub- marginal dark sub .. lunu!'ar pper side Male
band. Underside: Forewing paler and
without any gloss, markings as on
upper side, more distinct, the post-
discal area paler. Hindwlng with a
basal, a sub basal, ,a short median,
and a discat zigzag white line; ,a post-
discal, curved series of six black
ocelli, each ocellus with a blue
'c,entre, an inner ochra,ceous and an
outer brown ring.

Under side Male
Distribution: The subspec'ies ranges from Kulu to Kumaon and ascends to 7,000 to
11,000 feet in the North . . West Himalay.as. Wynter. . Blyth ([940) records it ,as oe,eurring sparingly
in the Narkanda~Bhagi forest and in Kulu, above 6,000 feet, from June to September.
Uttarakhand : Almora, Chamoli, Nainital, Bag,eshwar, Champawat andUtt.arkashi districts.
5). Lethe baladeva baladeva (Moore)

The Treble SUverstripe
1865. Zophoessa baladeva Moore" Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 769, pI. 41, fig. 5 .
1911.Lethe bala,deva baladeva Fruhstorfer: In Seitz.Gross- Schmelt. der Erde. Fauna Indo-Austra/.., 9 :
314, t. 97d ..
'General Ecology : It is very shy, an uncom'mon species; flies in the forested areas and
along paths and streams.
Diagnostic Characters : Antenna'e, head, thorax and ,abdolnen brown; antennae tipped
with ochraceous.
62 Zoological SllIT(~Y o{ India
Male and female Upper side : Wings

brown, the markings of underside
showing through by transparences, lnore
clearly on the hindwing. Hindwing with
black spots of unequal size. Underside:
Forewing y.ellowish-brown with
yellowish-white transverse bands; a post
discal silvery white band; a series of 5
minute black ocelli, with white pupils, a
broad ochraceous ring, and outwardly pper side Male
margined by an ochraceous transverse
line. Hindwingwith a discal, silvery white
band, crossing apex of cell, a post discal
sedes of six silver-centred,
YeHow-ringed black ocelli, the apical

oc,ellus very large, the tomus be,aring two
prominent reddish~ochraceous marks. The
hindwing produced at apices of vein 2
and 4.
,Wingspan : 55 ..65 mm.

~ nder :s,ide J\laJe
Distribution: The subspecies ranges from KUlnaon to Sikkim, .at ,an altitud ranging froln
5,000 to 9,000 feet. Uttarakhand : Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat and Nainital dist.
52. Lethe maitrya maitrya de NiceviBe

The Barred Woodbrown
l880. Lelltemailly adeNiceviUe,1.Asial. Soc. Beng.,49(2): 245,pL 10, fig. 20.
General Ecology: Inhabit low elevations wbere bamboos grow in abundance. A v,ery shy
insect and weak flier; hardly ever visit flowers and seldo:m settle on the damp patches,
undergrowth or tree trunk.
Diagnostic Characters: Antennae brown, annulated with 'white; head, thorax and abdomen
brown deep shining.
Male and female : Upper side: Wings deep shining brown. Forewing crossed beyond the
ceH by a pale ochraceous. outwardly curved band, narrow,esl and more prominent at the
costa, almost obsolete on reaching the third median nervule. Hindwing with the ocelli below
showing through indistinctly in black spots, and a sub-marginal series of black lunules.
KUMAR: Handbook all Common Blillerjli(, ,\' (~r U((arakhand 63
Under side : Forewing with a

prominent outwardly short, broad,
curved bar across the cell just beyond
its middle; the band beyond the c1ell
of the upper side, but much Inore
distinct, both ochraceous. A sub-
apical spot as above but whitish,
below which are four minute white
spots. Hindwing ,crossed by four very
irregular purplish hnes from base
towards outer margin; a sub . . apical
band of six oceUi, the fir;st four froln
the apex joined., the fifth s,eparate,
the s'ixth small and geminate; ocelli
brown and not boarded inwardly w ith
ochraceous.
Wingspan : 45-55 mIn.
Distribution ,: The subsp'e cies

ranges from Kulu to Bhutan and
aS1c1ends to about 11 , 000 feet in
Himalayas. Uttarakhand Ahnora
distri'c t
Upper side 1'lale
53. Lethe rohria rohria ( abricius)

The Common Tree Brown
1787. Papilio rohr;a Fabricius" Mant. lns'1 2 : 45.
1947. Lethe rohria rohria Talbot, Parma of British India (Bulterflies), 2 : 200-201.
General Ecology: A butterfly of hills with thick growth of bamboo forests, Relnain "'
a,c tiv,e during early morning ,and late evening, spending rest of the day at rest.1t is ,a weak
flier and never flies far, even if disturbed; gets attracted towards animal dung., over ripe fruits
and tree sap.
Diagnostic ,Character : Antennae black with ochraceous tip; head, thorax and abdolnen
brown .
Male and female: Upper side : Dark brown. Male: Upp,er side: Fore'wing with a costal
and two sub-apica.l white spots. Hindw.ing with oceJJi of undersid,e showing through, fOfllling
64 Zoological Survcy (~r India
two or three obscure black spots and

two slender sub-Inarginal black lines.
Underside: Paler and [,e ss brilliant..
Forewing with narrow and white lines,
a broad discal and narrower post-discal
white band forming a V; post-discal
band hearing a series of four yellow-
ringed black ocelli; two sub~api'cal
white spots and marginal ochraceous
lines. Hindwing with a sub basal, white pper side Male
line, followed by a curved series of
six b1ack ocelli" inner ring ochraceous
outer brown, the whole series bordered
on both sides by lilac-white lines.
Female: Upper side: Forewing with a
discal, broad oblique white band,with
a posterior white spot in area 1 h.
Under side : As in the male, but
markings more pronounced, the white
discal band on forewing very
prominent.
Under side .lV1:alc
,Wingspan : 60 . . 70 mm.
Distribution: The subspecies ranges from South India to Panchmarhi and Kashmir to
Sikkim, found between 3,000 to 6.,000 feet in western Himalayas. Also occurs in Myanm,ar.
Uttarakhand: Dehra Dun, Almora, Bageshwar and Tehri districts.
54. Lethe verma verma (Ko liar)

'T h,e Straight, Banded Treebrown
1844. Satyrus verma Kollar, In : Hugel's Kaschmir und dol' Reich der Seik, 4 (2) : 447, pI. 10 fig. 23.
]'9( L Lethe v,erma verma (Kollar) : Fruhs,t orfer; ,( n Se:itz.Gross-Schmett. Erde Fauna Indo-AuslraL, 9: 324.
General Ecology : Abundant species especially in North west Himalayas betw,een 4,000
to 9,000 feet from spring to autumn. The flight is weak and of very short distance. It is fond
of settling on the bark of trees and earthen banks along roadsides.
Diagnostic Characters: Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen brown, antennae tipped
with ochraceous.
KUMAR : Handbook on Common ButlC!l:/lies of Utlarakhalld 6S
Male and female : Upper side

Wings brown. Forewing with an even,
bro.ad, oblique, white discal band,
ending near the margin just above
vein 2, in the female continued below
vein 2. Hindwing with a two or thr,ee
faint white ·centered, bluish, stnalL
obscure ocelli. Both wings with pale
sub-marginal and marginal lines .
Underside : Forewing wi.thwhite
band as above; two white-·centered,
o·c hr,a ceous ringed" black ocen L
Hindwing with two very irregular Upper side 1\1 a Ie
sinuous brown lines scal,ed with lilac
and a post. .discal series of six white~
centered black ocelli encircled with
a yellowish, a brown and a sil very
ring. Both wings with sub-Inarginal
and marginal pale ochraceous lines.
Wingspan : 55 ~60 mm.
Distribution: The subspecies

ranges from Kashlnir to KUlnaon,
recorded from Himalayas from 3,000
to 7,000 feet. Uttarakhand Almora,
Dehra Dun, Bageshwar and l ndcr'S'dc 1\1alc
55. Lasion.mata scltakra schakra (Kollar)

The Common Wall
1844, Satyrus schakra Kollar, In ~ Hugel's Koschmir und do Reich del' Sh~k, 4(2) : 446, pI. 15, figs .
3, 4.
1947. Pararge schakra schakra (Ko11ar) : Talbot, Fauna of British India (Butle~/li(?s) , 2 : 242~243.
G.enera/ Ecology: The Common Wall is one of the comlnonest butterflies of the western
Himalayas, extending ·eastwards as far ·as Sikkim. It can be seen in all s,easons around the
rocky roadside, and pitching on the rocks or sunny banks. The flight is lively and fairly close
to the ground.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae brown; head and thorax dark grey and abdolnen pale
brown. Both sexes differing slightly.
66 Zoological Slirvey ,o f India
Male : Upper side : W'ings si ky dark

brown. Forewing with four large orange
spots in distal area, the apic,al one being
the largest, bearing a black whit,e-centered
oceHus; a sub marginal brown line.
Hindwing unifonn; ,a post-discal row of
six black, white-centered, orange ringed
oc,eUL Underside: Gr,e yish white.
Forewing with discal orange area; two
lines crossing the cell, 'edged outwardly
pper side Male by dark lines; an irregular, orange-brown
line, not reaching the tomus; sub . . marginal
and margina.1dark lines. A large sub-apicaJ
ocellus and a minute ocellus beyond it
towards apex. H indw ing with orange
brown lines; a distal curved row of six
ocelli, ,each ocellus with rings of pale
yellow and brown, ahernat,ely two of each,
a sub-marginal and marginal brown line.
Female : The orange spot bearing the
ocellus on the upper side of the fore wing,
inwardly bordered bya broad., pale, short
line.
Under side ale
Distribution : It is reported from Baluchistan and Chitral (Pakistan) to Kumaon and is

common from 4,500 to 11,000 felet in Himalayas.
Uttarakhand : Almora, Chamoli, D,ehra Dun, ~ehri" Bageshwar, Rudr,a Prayag., Pithoragarh
and Uttarkashi districts.
56. Rhaph.icera .moore; moore; (Butler)

The Sma Tawny Wall
1867. Rhaphicera moorei Buder, Ann. Mag. nat. Hisl.., (3) 14 : 164 pI. 4, fi,g. 4.
1947.Rhaphicera m.oore; moore; (Butler) : Talbot, Faun.a .of British India (Butterflies), 2 ; 250, fig. 76.
,General Ecolo,gy : The Small Tawny \Va'il is a local species of temperat,e regions. It is
found in the Himalayas between 7,500 to 14,000 feet during August. Some times it visits
the How,ers and rests in shady undergrowths or under rocks with wings closed.
Diagnostic ,C haracters: Antennae bla,ck; head, thorax and abdom'en dusky brown.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Buue.l}7ies (~r Uu,araklralld 67
Male and female Upper side: Wings

ochraceous-yellow. Forewing with basa1
area shaded wi th dusky brown; discal
yellow spot in area 3 bears a bJack dot't
some time absent. Hindwingwith basal
area shaded with dusky brown; distal patch
in area 4 bears a black spot.
Under side : Paler, duH ochraceous

y,ellow. Forewing with post discal line
more evenly curved and ending at inner
margin. Hindwing with six white-centred
black ocelli in discal and outer ,areas, with Upper side 1\1ale
two dark lines in the cel1.
Distribution : The subspecies ranges froln ShiinJa to S'ikkitn, found froln 7,000 to ll ,000
feet in Kumaon hiUs.Uttarakhand: Almora, Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh
districts.
57. All.locera brahn';l1l1s (Blanchard)

The Narrow Banded Satyr
1844. Satyrus brahmil1us Blanchard" III : JacquemonCs Voy.Dans /11 de. 4, Ins., : 22 pI. 2, fig. 4.
1932. Au/oceta Brahminus Blanchard : Evans. Idellt(/icalion of Indian BUffelilier;, 2nd ed. : 116.
Gene~al Ecolo,gy : It is a large, powerful and heavily buHt butterfly. It is an inhabitant

of Himalayas, prefering open country, The flight is graceful and fast. The species is fond of
sunshine and rests on ground and rocks and occasionally on flowers.
Diagnostic Characters Antennae, head. thorax and abdolllen dark bro,\'n .
..•-......
~
--
....... -
-.. / "....-
...
•- ,
\;_\
l
r4
~
Upper side 'Iille llnder sidt, 1;1Il'

Male and fe/nale Upper side Wings bla'ck with a bronzy she,en; both wings crossed
by a post-discal oblique band of white spots, ex curved on hindwing. Forewing with band-
interrupted sub-apically by a large round black spot., enclosed by a white spot on outer, upp,er
·and inner edges. Hindwing band narrow, not reaching inner margin, cilia alternately black
and white. Under side Pale brown, markings as on upper side but irrorated with minute
specks and striae of white; for1ewing irroration less prolninent at basal, discaJ and inner
areas. Hindwing darker in lower basal half,with a post discal, lunular, irregularly curved
black band.
Wingspan : 55-68 min,.
Distribution : The spe,cies is not common and occurs at high elevation to ,above 13,5.00
f; et in Himalayas. Uttarakhand : Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Almora, Bag,eshwar, Pithoragarh and
58. Aulocera padma padn.a (Kollar)

The Great Satyr
\ 844. Satyrus padma Kollar, In: Huger's Kaschmir lind das Reich der Siek, 4(2) ': 445 pI. 15. figs. 1, 2.
1932 . Aulocera padm,a padma (Kollar) : Ev.ans., Identification of Indian Butlelllies" 2nd ,ed. : 116.
'General Ecology : It is the largest species of the Aulocera genus. It has a powerful and
graceful flight, very difficuh to catch. It is fond of settling on roads, hilltops and ridges,
onen sits on the ground with closed wings. The male is very aggressive and chases intruders,.
Diagnostic Characters Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen black.
Male and female: It is larger than Aulocera brahminus. Upper side : Wings dark brown
to black with out bronzy sheen. Forewing with broad discal band, straight not tinged,
Inarginal three white spots w,ell separated, conical and pointed outwardly; sub-api,cal black
spot not promi nent; white spot in inner side of sub-apical spot continued to costa in female.
Hindwing with broad band., g'enerally touching inner margin.
I pper ide Female Und,e r side Fema le

KUMAR : Han.dbook on Common Butterflies of Uuarakhand 69
Under sid,e : Silky brown; dark brown discal bands sharply defined on inner edges,
diffused on outer side. Forewing with a sub-margina , broad dark brown band; spots on ar'ea
three and four of disc,al band separate. Basal area of hindwing very dark, the greyish white,
very delicate and fine striae and ting'ed with purplish. Post.. discal black band broad, having
a s,eries of irregular triangu ar white blotches.
Distribution: It is found in aU sort of country above 4.,000 feet, and ranges from Kashlllir
to Assam and ascends to about 9., 000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand : ChaJTIoli, Dehra Dun .
Rudra Prayag and Uttarkashi districts.
59. Aulocera swalJa swalJa (Kollar)

The Common Satyr
1844. Satyrus swaha Kollar, In ,: Hugel's Kaschmir und ,das Reich der Siek. 4(2) : 444, p1. 14, figs .
1, 2.
1932. Aulocera s'Waha swaha (Kollar) : Evans, Ident~/icafio1.l of Indi,all BUllel:/lies 2"d ed. : 117.
General Ecology: It is sm,a ller than the

Great Satyr. The flight is weak, found above
5,000 feet, prefers open, grassy hillsides .and
sunny places in forests, seen from August to
October.
Diagnotic Characters: Male and female

: Upper side : Wings dark brown glossed
with greenish. Forewing with discal broader
white band, not excurved on the hindwing,
tinged with creamy yellow; with a sub . .apical
black spot enclosed by a white spot, less Upper side Male
distinct; tbe white spot on its inner edge not
continued to costa. Hindwing paler, with
disc,at band broader, narrowing posteriorly,
not reaching the inner margin except rarely
in female, and the vein crossing it usu,ally
not darkened. Under side: Paler. Forewing':
The base and margins marbled with greyish-
white striae. Hindwing with lower basal area
tinged with gre,en:' post-discal, lunular, black
and straighter; a distal broad band of greyish
white striae; [narginal black line' not fully
d veloped on both wings.
70 Zoological Sru'\'ey of I"dia
Wingspan 60-70 InITI.
Distribution The subspecies is common frotn Chitral (Pakistan) to Sikkim and ascends
t'0 about 10,000 feet in Hilna ayas. Peile (1937) recorded it frotTI August to October at 6,000
to 10,000 feet [rotn hillsid,es and very COlTIlnOn at Nainital in Septernber. A'iso oocurs in
Nepa1. Uttarakhand Ahnora., 'Chalnoli and Rudra Prayag districts.
l
60. Au/()eera ~..arQswati (Kollar)

The Striated Satyr
1844. Satyru.. sa/~aswati Ko Uar, In : Hugers Kaschmir lind das R,eich der Siek, 4(2) : 448, pI. 14 figs . 3~
4.
1867. Aulocera saras~va(i (Kollar) : Buder,. Enl. Month. Mag .., 4: ]2 1, no. 2.
General Ecology The Striated Satyr greatly resembles the Common Satyr. Unlike the
Comlnon Satyr, it shows a decided preference for open, grassy ditch sides, where it swarms
in late August.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen dark brown.
Male and Female : Upper side : Wings dark brown, gloss,ed greenish,with a whitish
band, the white band very broad and nearly even throughout and reaching inner Inargin on
hind wing; apex ,and tomusmuch more rounded. A large blind 'Ocellus present in s'Ub ~apical
area. In the female forewing" the whitish spot on the inner edge of the b ~ ack sub ~apical spot
is large and elongate" in the male minut'e.
Underside Yellowish. Hindwing with

the ocellus pupiUed 'with white spot~
numerous fine black stri,ae except on tbe
discal and post-discal bands, the former
inwardly margined bya slender dark
brown line, the latter very distinct, black
and diffuse at the edges, very broad
towards inner margin of for,ewing. Female
is larger than the male and paller in colour,
the markings on the under sid,e similar but
less prominent.
Upper s·de talc
Wingspan: 60-75 rnm.
Distribution: The species ranges frotn 'Chitrai (Pakistan) to S'ikkitn and ascends to about
10 .000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand Chalnoli, D,e hraDun, Rudra Prayag, Pithor,agarh
and Uttarka hi distrtcts.
KUMAR: Handbook 011 Common Butter/he.. ', (~r Uttarakhand 71
61. Caiie,rebia 5'canda !l'cal'l,da (Kollar)

The PalHd Argus
1844. Erebia 5canda KoUar1 In .' Hugel's Kaschmir und das Reich der Siek, 4(2) ; 452, pI. 171 figs, 3,
4.
1867 Ca/.l,e~ehia sctlllda Kollar: Butler. Ann. and Mag. of Nat, Hisl., Third serles, 20 : 217,. n. 1,
General Ecology ,: A very common butterfly seen along roadside in the month of August.
It has a typical Brown's flight. When disturbed., it flies dodging out of reach of the collector.
It can be seen basking for a very short titne.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae, head, thorax and abdolnen brown.
Male and female : Upper sid'e : Wings

velvety brown, becoming paler over discal
areas. Forewing with a very pale ~ulvous
ringed, oval, dark brown sub-apical ocellus.
Unders'ide : Unifonn brown, forewing with
ooellus as upper side; a sub- Inarginal, faint,
darker brown band. Hindwing lnore .or less
dusted with white over posterior two-thirds '
two small sub-basal, fulvous ring,ed, white
pupiUed black oceUi, and ,above them four
minute whit1e dots.
Wingspan : 50-60 mm. Under sidc IVlalc
Distribution : The subspecies has been recorded froln Kashlni r to KUJnaon and uplO an
,altitude of 8,000 fe,et in Hhnalayas . Uttarakhand : D,ehra Dun, Ahnora Bagesl1\var, ~l\;h ri~
Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi and Chalnoli districts.
62. Ypthima sakra lIikaea Moo 'e

The Himalayan Five.. ring
1874. Ypthima nikae,Q Moore, Proc" zool Soc.. Land,, : 567"
1932. Yplltima sakra nikaea Moore Evans, The Identification of Indian BUllel:flies : 123.
General Ecology : This butterfly is COlnfnon in the rainy seasons but found" throughout
the year, .on grassy slopes and edg,es of forest. It fe'eds on flowers of various speci1es and flies
close to the ground. Its flight is weak. It also visits damp pat'ch'es. This butterfly does not
show any s,easonal forms.
Diagnostic Characlerf) :Antennae~ head, thorax and abdolnen alnber-brown, pa ler beneath.
72 Zoolog.ical Survey of India
Upper side: Wing atnber-brown, outer Inargin darker forewing with

Atale and jc.'l1ut/e
a large. oval and oblique. hi-pupilled yellow-ringed ocellu , with outer dark brown ring.
Hindwing with four white pupiUed ocelli,
apical and tornal olc elli ,a bsent or
sometimes faintly marked, other two are
always minute. Under side: Pale-brown,
thi,ckly with brown striated. Forewing with
sub~apical oce'lius as on upper side, but
larg1er and more distinct.H indwing with
fi ve prolninent, yellow-ringed ocelli" the
t\\'o sub-apical ocelli encircled by a
common yellow ring, the next three ocelli
in straight 'Iine and the tomal ocellus are
bi-pupilled.
Wingspan : 45 -55 mm
Upper side Male
Distribution . The subspecies is common from Murree (P,akistan) to Kumaon (India) and
ascends to about 9,000 feet in westemHimalayas from May to October. Uttarakhand :
Almora, ChamoIi, Tehri, Bageshwar and Uttarkashi districts.
63. Ypthima ceyJon.icQ huebneri (Kirby)

The 'C ommon Four-rin:g
1871 . Ypthima huebneri Kirby, Syn, Cat. Diurn, Lep.. : 95.
1947. Yph.tima c.eylonica hubneri (Kirby) : Talbot, TheF:auna of British India (Butterflies), 2 : 329~330.
General Ecology : A v'ery common butterfly of faidy open hill country. The flight is
short, constantly or frequently settling on eaves or on grass along roadsides.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae, bead, thorax and abdomen greyish-brown, ,abdomen
paler beneath. .
Male and fe.male : 'Wet s'eason fonn Upper side Wings greyish-brown. Forewing with
a sub-apical1arge ocellus, black, bi-pupiHed, with yellow-ring. Hindwing with two, sometimes
Under 's ide l\1ale

KUMAR: Handbook on Common BUfte/~f7ies of Ultar,a khand 73
three, uni-pupilled post discat ocelli. Under side: Greyish white, not v'ery densely covered
with transverse brown striae. For,ewing with sub-api'c,al oc,ellus as on upper side. Hindwing
with one sub-apical and three contiguous posterior oc'el1L Both wings ,crossed by dark bands,
faint on the hindwing. In dry season form both wings somewhat paller on both sides, discal
and sub.. marginal bands more pr-onounc'ed. Hindwing under side with ocelli 'minute or absent.
Distribution : This subspecies is common from 4,00.0 to 5,,000 fe,et in the hiBs and
throughout Peninsular India to ,Assam. Also OQcurs in Myanmar. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun,
Haridw,ar, 'Tehri and Pauri districts.
64. Ypthima na,red" nareda (Kollar)

The L,arge 'Three-ring
l844. Satyrus nareda Kollar, In : Hugel's Kaschmir und das Re,i,ch der Siek, '4{2 ) : 451, no. 12.
1932,. Ypthima nare,da nareda (KolJar) : Evans, IdentificatIOn allndian Butterflies (2nd ed.) : 120.
Gene~al Ecol()gy : It is a hill flying species found in open, grassy 'khud' sides and in
lightly wooded country, s,een throughout the year.
Diagnostic Characters : Antenna,e, head, thorax and abdomen, brown, abdomen pale
beneath. Male and female: Upper side : Wings pale brown.; cilia of both the wings whitish-
brown; the broad sub-marginal band of under sid,e shows through. Forewing with sub-apical
ocellus. Hindwing with a sub-tornal and a Ininute tornal spot. Und,er side: Pale ochrac,eous;
striations well marked and uniformly spread; ocelli as on under side more or less in line;
hindwing with a large sub-apilcal oc'ellu . Both \vings with sub-'marginal, dark band" that in
the for'ewing broadening posteriorly.
Und~r sidt" Ft>nl.ale

Distribution: The subspecies is common from Kashmir to Kumaon and ase,ends to about
10,000 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in N,epal. Uttarakhand : Almora, Chamoli, Bageshwar,
Nainital, ~ehri ,and Uttarkashi Distts.According to McKinnon (18'9'9) it is common in
Mussoorie from April to Q,ctober. There is no dry season form. PeHe (1937) records the sub-
species as common in Kumaon at 2,000 to 7,000 feet, .April to October.
65 YptltilllO baldus baldu.s (Fabricius)

The 'C ommon Five-ring
1775 . Papi/io b,aldus Fabricius, Sysl. Ellt., (3) t : 829.
1947. Ypthima baldus baldus (Fabricius) : Talbot, The Fauna of British India (Buttel.'!lies). 2 :337-338,
Gellerai Ecology : It is a v,ery comrnon butterfly of dry and lnoist deciduous forests. It
Oie' in open country and ,evergreen forest areas. It i' active throughout the year. It visits wet
soil e pecially in the sumrner .or on hot days. It is a frequent visitor of flowers, unlike rnost
other Browns' Fond of slnaU herbs and hrubs., especially Adeloclyslll11, Tridax etc.
Th _ Dry season fonn and wet ' ason fOfln tnay be obtained froln the suitable localities.
ppcr side Fcnlalc
Diagno lie Characters Male andfelnale:Wet Season fonn Upper side Wings brown;
both fore and hindwings with the outer margins much darker, with sub basal and dis'cal
bands. Forewing with a sub-apical large ocellus, oval, black, hipupiHed, and yellow-ringed.
Hindwingwith two' smaller post disca) ocelli and two~minute tornal ocelli. Under side :
Brownish . .white, both wings With prominent sub .. basal, discal and sub"'marginal brown bands.
Hind wing with six smaller ocelli in pairs" two tomal, two medians and two in sub apical
area.. Female: Upper side of both the wings with the area surrounding the ocelli paler, closely
striated with brown. Under side is paler than the male and the transverse dark bands more
clearly defined. Dry season form in paler and the ocelli on the upper side of hindwlng reduce
to specks.
Distribution ': The subspecies is common from North-West Himalayas (Chalnba) to Assa'm
upto 5,000 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Myanmar. Uttarakhand : Mussoorie in the
month of March and April, and from July to October in Dehra Dun, Haridwar ,and Tehri
districts.,.
66. Melanitis leda l.smene (Cramer)

'T he Common Evening Brown
1775. Papillo ismene Cramer, Pap. Exot., 1 ; 40, pI. 26~ figs. A, B.
1947, Melanitis leda ismene (Cramer) : Talbot, Fauna of British India. Bulter/lies. 2 : 366 369.
KUMAR: Handbook 011 Common Buttelilies of Utlarakltand 75
Upper side Male Under side 1ale
General Ecology : It is the ,commonest of aU buuerflies seen throughout the country,

frequently getting attracted to lIght like moths,. During daytilne they r,est in shaded
undergrowths. They are common in cities. Fond of ripe fruits and attracted to tree-sap, toddy
and damp patches. When disturbed, fly t'0 a very short distanc,e and s'eules in shaded
undergrowth. The flight is jerky and weak. In the monsoon months, they may be seen flying
.over the rice fields in the morning and evening,lnost probably in search of a mate.
It is the best example for seasonal variations in the shape of wings, co'iour markings and
ocelli.
Diagnostic Characters . Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen in both forms, brown or
greyish-brown; antenna ringed with white, the tip ochraceous.
Wet-season form: Male .and Female: Upper side: Wings brown. Forewing with two
large sub-apical black spots, each 'with small pur,e white spots in its discal part, the inner
edge of this black patch bordered narrowly with ochraceous, interrupted in area 4~costal
margin narrowly pale. Hindwing, in area 2, with a sub-marginal, d,ark, white-centred fulvous-
ringed ocellus. Underside '. Paler, densely stri.ated with dark brown.
Forewing with a d'scal, curved, dark brown, narrow band; a post discal similar band~ a
row of four ocelli. Hindwing with a row of six oc'elli, ,the apical and sub-tomal ar'e largest.
Dry season form : Male and female : Forewing with apex .obtuse and fuleate, outer
margin straight .or sinuous. Upper side: Brown; markings especia ly the .ochra'ceous lunules
inward. y bordering the black sub.,apical spots .on forewing, larger than in thew,et fonn.
Hindwings without an ocellus in area 2, but posteriorly replaced by 3-4 minute white sub-
marginal spots.
Under side: Very variable, with various shades of grey black, yellow, ochraceous-brown
and ochraceous-red; ocelli ar,e completely obscure on both wings, but when present represented
only by white specks or dots.
Wingspan: 60-80mm.
Distribution : The subspecies is extremely comlnon throughout India, exc'ept deserts,
ascending upto 7,000 feet in the hills. Uttarakhand :Alrnora, Chamoli, Dehra Duo, Haridwar~
Pauri, Pithoragarh and Tehri districts.
76 Zoological Surl',e y ollndia
67. Elymnias /lypernlnestra undular;s (Drury)

The CommonPalmOy
1773. Papilio undularis Drury, II/ustf: Exat. Ins ., ,2 : pI. 10, figs . l, 2.
1947. Elymni,as hypermn,es.tra undularis (Drury) Talbot. Fauna of British I"dia (Bulle/flies) 2 : .386.
General Ecology : This is the ,commonest and Inost widely distributed sp,ecies of the
Palmwflies, the only one to be found in Peninsular lndia. It is also found along the warm
valleys of Himalayas. Resident of pahn forests, avoid bright sunlight but fond of chequered
shade. Flight is weak, male often settling on pahn tre _. The female is less seen than the Inale,
and when on wings is an exc,eUent mimi,c of the Plain Tiger, Danalls cJlI:.vsipPll~ or the
Common Tiger, Danaus genutia.
Diagnostic Characters : Antennae,
head, thorax and abdom,e n brown;
abdomen paler beneath . .Male : Upper
sIde: W'ings blackish-brown with purple
gloss. Forewing with a sub@marginal
s,eries of blue spots, ,curving strongly
inwards ,and becoming more elongate
near apex, forming an oblique bar to
costa. Hindwing w'ith outer margin
broadly bright chestnest, sometimes with
a paler blue spots. Under side : Pale
Upper side Male
brown withfin,e striations. Forewing with
a sub-apical, broadly triangular, pale
purplish.white markings; both wings
with a purplish-white area. Hindwing
with a small white spot ,and toothed in
both the sexes. Female : Upper side :
Reddish-brown with apex and borders
dark brown, spotted with white.
Forewing with broad white band below
apex. Under side : Markings similar to
male, the pa'ie whitish markings more
extensive; inner margin broadly with
Upper side Female
striae.
Wood-Mason (1887) records that the males emit a strong odour resembling vanilla,.
Wingspan : 72e86 mm.
Distribution : This subspe'cies is common froOm Dehra Dun to Madhya Pradesh, West
Bengal and ASSalTI . Also occurs in Myanmar. Uttarakhand : Almora, Haridwar, Bageshwar
and DehraDun districts.
KUMAR: Handbook ,on Common Butterflies of UtlarakJutnd 77
Family 6. ERYCINJDAE
'The members of falnily Erycinidae ,are small in size. They are brown on upper side with
,a tawny horizontal band oOn each wing; the under side of hindwings are usually gr'ey and
protectively marked with dark brown dots and patches. The most obvious chara'cter that
makes them unmistakable is the enormous prolong,ation .of the palpi to front of the head,
giving the appear.ance of a be,ak, thus 'commonly known as 'The Beaks, The Punches and The
Judies.
All the species are confined to hilly, wood,ed country, preferring thick forest and shaded
areas. 'They are found around streams and in ,clearings.
The flight of ,aU the m'embers is rapid, keeping in ,air for a short period at a time. The
Beaks generally settle with the wings closed together over the back and the forewing drawn
into the hindwings. The Judiesalways settle with wings half open.
The members of this family never visit flowers but can be encountered near wat'er
sourc'es. The sexes are different in appearanc,e but none .of the mal,es have ,any se,condary
characteristi,cs.
The food-plants belong to the genus Libythea Urticaceae family.
The common examples found in the State are, the Common Beak (Libythea /eptia)1 The
Club B'eak (Libythea myrrha), The Common Punch (Dodona durga) .and The Tailed Punch
(Dodona eugenes).
68. Libythe,a myrrha Godart

The Club Beak
1819. Libythea myrrha Godart, Ene.. Meth ., 9 : 17 1, no. 4.
General Ecology : A small sized, very COlnlnon butterfly found near str'ealns in fo rests,
settling very readily on damp patches. It is
always w,ary, gets frightened and flies off
rapidly. It visits flowers ofAnaphesis species
in 'Garhwal Himalaya"
Diagnostic Charac(,ers : Antenn,ae, palpi
and body dark brown, paler below. The
,colour of cilia throughout .ochraceous brown.
Male : Upper side : Both wings dark

brown and almost black, with tawny
m,arkings. Forewing with a cell streak; two Upper side 'laic
7'8 Zoolo,gic,a l Survey of India
sub .. apical orange yeHow spots placed obliquely, sometimes separated, sometimes joined into
a band, giving a club-like appearance, apex cut off at the tip, with a margin 'produced into
a tooth at vein 4 and falcate below it. Hindwing with an orange-yellow broad discal band,
wide ,and diffus,e dat the abdominal margin but els'ewhere well defined and not r'eaching the
costa'~ outer margin wavy. Under side : Paler, forewing with a tawny marking as above, the
discal streak wider, occupying almost the entire basal area of the cell.~ the apex (rroTated with
purplish. Hindwing with no tawny discal band, irrorat,ed throughout with purplish. Fe,male
: pa' er throughout, tbe tawny markings larger.
Distribution: The species is common in North-India to Assam, and ,ascends to about

9,000 feet in North-West ,Himalayas. Also occurs in Myanmar. Uttarakhand : Almora, Dehra
Dun, Haridwar, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Tehri districts.
69. Libythea leptia Moore

The Common Beak
1857.. Libythea /.eplia Moore, In : Hor field and Moore's Cat.. Lep. Mus. E.l.C.. t : 240, no. 519
G,eneral Ecology: A little butterfly, abundantly found, usually in the deep of forest
anywhere where there is sunlight. It has a variety of flights like rapid flight, skipping and
sailing. It is commonest around forest streams in the dry season and may seen settling in
large numbers on damp sand ' at their edges.
Diagnostic Characters: Male and female: Upper side: Wings dark brown. Forewing
with an or.ange-y,ellow streak in the cell, divided into two portions widening in the apex of
cell, a large square spot of the same colour
beyond it on the disc in interspace 2 and 3, a
sub-costal white spot and a pre-apicaJ double
spot, the low,er portion orange..yellow, the upper
portion white. Hindwing uniform, with a disco-
,cellular orange patch near vein 2 to vein 6.
Under side : Paler. Forewing markings as on
upper side but the pve- apical double spot white;
costal margin and apex of wing greyish
Hindwing more or less cov'ered with grey scales
and blotches of green and dark brown. Ulp per side Ma e
Wingspan: 45-50 mm.
Distribution : The spe,cies is re,corded from Kashmir to Assam and South India and
asc'ends to about 3,000 to 9,000 Ceet in North. . West Himalayas. Uttarakhand : Debra Dun,
Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Pithoragarh andUttarkashi districts.
KUMAR: H,a ndbo,o k 011 Common Bulter/lies of Unarakhand 79
70. Dodona durga (Kollar)

The Common Punch
1844. Melitaea durga Kollar, In ; Hugel's Kaschmir und das Reich der Siek. 4(2) : 441, pl. 13, figs . 3,
4.
1932. Dodona durga (KoHar) Evans, Identification of Indian Buuerjlies: 194.
General Ecology : A brown coloured butterfly with tawny spots on w'ings. It inhabits
forests of North India often near water stream and flies in the sunshine. It is a quick flier
but settles frequently with its wings ,closed. The males visIt damp patches and 'flowers as
well.
I
Upper side Male Under side Male
Diagnostic Characters: Male : Upper side: Both wings dark brown with numerous dark
yellow spots. Forewing with yellow short streaks across the cell, another at its end and a
large one beyond fro'm the Icosta, yellow spots near the bases of the medi,an intersp,aces,
below the ceH, post discal and sub-marginal areas~ five linear spots from below apex to
torna} angle. Hindwing with the disco-cellular marked with ,an 9chraceous line~ an irregular
discal series of spots, a sub-marginal and marginal linear series coalesc'e above the anal lobe.
Under side with the spots large and pale yellow throughout. Forewing with the base and
inner margin fuscous, the base of costa ochraceous, the base of cell enclosing a black spot.
other m,a rkings as abov,e. Hindwing with ochraceous markings. Female: Larger than m,aJe,
wings broader, outer margin of forewing more convex" apex less produced, markings similar
throughout as in the male.
Wingspan : 30~40 mm.

Distribution: The species is very common a lover the outer rang,e of western Hitnalayas
and ascends to about 9,000 feet. Uttarakhand :Almora, Chamoli, Dehra Duo, Handwar,
Nainital and Tehri districts.
80 Zoological Survey ,0 / India
7). Dodona eugenes Bates

'T he Tailed Punch
19,67. Dodolla eugenes Hales~ J. Linn. Soc. Zool.• ' : 371.
General Ecology : The TaHed Punch is an aggressive butterfly. It can be found along
'w,at,er streams and shaded areas. It sits with wings c'losed and sucks moisture, Its flight is
w,e akand short and also visits flowlers of Anpha/is.
Upper s'de Male Under side Male
Diagnostic Characters: Male ': Upper side: Wings dark, blackish brown. Forewing with
a narrow line acros& the middle, a curved streak near the hind angle, and about thirteen small
spots equally distributed over the apical half of the wing; all these marks are whitish. Hind
wing with the outer portion traversed by four indistinct brownish-tawny lines; at the apex
,are two black spots, edged with the light brown; on the broad square lobe at the anal angle
is quadrat,e black spot, a slender tail arising from its outer edge Under side: Tawny brown
with silky shiny strips and spots .on the hindwing and ,costa of forewing.
Female ,: Large, the wings broader, the apex of the forewing more rounded, and the outer
margin .of the wings convex; aU the markings larger and paler.
Wingspan : 35-45 mm
Distribution: The species is common in outer Him,alayas from Murree (Pakistan) to

Assam, ascending to about 4,500 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Bhutan. Uttarakhand :
P'thoragarh district.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Butte/ilies of Uttarakhand 81
Family 7. NYMPHALIDAE
Brushfooted Butterflies
The members of this family are the most beautiful alnongst butterflies. Always bright and
brilliantly, coloured, most of them have tawny background with black markings which may
be banded, spotted, blotched, striped, or variegated with very different patterns. The wings
are of varied shape, the hind wings may be tailed, toothed, scalloped, sharply angled and
indented, or evenly rounded. The bodies are robust, the thorax stoutly built and abdomen
comparatively short.
The fore legs are imperfect in both the sexes and the cell open in both the wings.
The family comprises more than a hundred genera from the world, of which around fifty
are found in India.
The size varies from very large Kaisers, the Great Eggfly, Oak-leaf (135 mm Wingspan)
to minute Baby Lascar (25 mm.).
They are fast fliers, difficult to catch. All the species of this family visit flowers and are
fond of sunshine and basking. SOlne species are attracted to over-riped fruits, fruits dipped
in beer, or freshly dropped dung.
The family Nymphalidae displays some interesting exalnples of Milnicry. The felnales of
the Danaid Eggfly, Hypolimnas misippus, perfectly mimic the Plain Tiger, Danaus chrysippus,
both in appearance and habits, the male being entirely different in appearance. The Oak-leaf
is beautiful and brilliantly coloured on the upper side, but very dull and completely different
coloured and marked on under side, like a dry leaf.
The sexes may be similar or different and the seasonal variation is well exhibited in sOlne
like Pansies, Oak-leafs etc.
Some common species of the family Nymphalidae found in the State are Athyma opalina
(Kollar), Neptis mahendra Moore, Neptis hylas astola Moore, Cyrestis thyodamas Boisduval,
Hypo limn as bolina (Linnaeus),) etc.
72. AtJayoma opalina (Kollar)

'T he Himalyan Sergeant .
1844. Limenitis opalina Kollar, In : Hugel s Kaschmir undo das Reich der Siek, 4(2) : 427.
1857. Athyma opalina (Kollar) : Horsfield and Moore, Cat. Lep, Mus , E./.C. , 1 : 171 no, 351, fig. 2,
General Ecology: ,A Ylery common sp cies in the western Himalayas but rar,e towards
the East. It flies in the open areas and sunny nallahs where it can be seen in the cotnpany
of the Common and Himalayan Sail,ers. It settles on damp patches, stones leaves and 1
bushes.
Diagnostic Cha~acters ,: Male : Upper side: Wings bla'ck with creamy-white markings,.
Forewing with a narrow streak and two spots at its outer end in the ceH, a triangular spot
beyond, a sub-apical series of three spots~ a disc,at series of four spots from area three to
inner area; two sub-marginal wavy pale lines, the inner one is prominent towards the apex
and inner angle. Hindwing brownish black with creamy markings; discal white band from
the costal to inner margin, divided by the black veins; sub-marginal series of white lunules
placed from apex to inner margin.
Under side : F,orewing reddish brown; the posterior half of wings duller, the hindwing
suffused with pale lilac, the white markings as on upper side but broader, the dorsal margin
of hindwing greenish-blue. Female : Differs from the m,ale in the ground colour on both
sid,es being much paler, and all the white markings considerably large.
Distribution: The species ranges from Kashmir to Sikkim and Assam, Uttarakhand
,Almora,Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Pithoragarh and Tehri districts ascending to
about 10,000 feet in Himalayas. A'Iso occurs in Myanmar.
KUMAR; Handbook on Common Butterflies of UtlarakhaJld 83
73. Neptis hy/as astola Moore

Tbe Common Sa 91er
1872. Neptis astola Moore. Proc. zoo I. Sac. Lond., : 560 .
1932 Neptis hylas ,astola Moore: Evans. The ldenl{/ical,ion of Indian Butterflies. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc.,
: 166.
,G eneral Ecology ,: This is ,a very

common, widely distributed butterfly of
wooded and hilly regions. It prefers wel1-
watered and densely vegetated nallahs,. It
flies with the wings spread flat and glides
without much effort. However, it is a quick
flier and a superb dodger, therefore" not
so easy to net. It feeds exclusively on the
nectar of flowers and spends most of its
time close to the damp ground to suck up
the moisture. . U'p per side Male
Diagnostic Characters Male and

female: Upper side : Wings black with
white markings. F,o rewing with white
str,eaks, triangular spot and a sub-marginal
series of five white spots towards the apex.
The cell of the forewing is entirely white.
Hindwing with a sub-basal broad white
band of Inore even width throughout and
an outer series of squarish white spots.
Under side : Red brown with white
marking; the white sub-basal band of
hindwing not distinctly black-edged, the
reddish band followed it evenly and
Under side Male
tapering towards the ,apex; the macular
discal band a litde narrower ,and not
distinctly black bOl1dred.
,Wingspan : 4S-60mm.
Distribution : The subspecies is ,common throughout tbe year in India and ranges froln
Kashmir eastwards to Myanmar, aSlcending to about 9,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand
: Almora, Dehra Dun, Haridw,ar,' Pauri, Tehri, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Uuarkashi
districts.
84 Zoological Surv,e y of I"dia
74.. Neptis ",allelldra Moore

'"[he Himalayan Sailer
1872. Neptis mahendra MQore Proc, : (JO . Soc. Land., : 560, pI. 32 fig. 2.
1969. Neptis mahendra malrendra Moore : Eliot. Bull Bri. Mus. (nal. Hisl.) en'. Suppl.. 15 : 79,
General Ecology A very common butterfly of North - West Himalayas,

fond of sunlight; fr,equendy basks .on leaves and rocks with its wings held wide open.
Diagnostic Characters Male and

felnale : Upper side: Wings dun black,
elongate, markings white. ForewIng
c'ell with a single narrow streak and
with a large triangular spot beyond.; a
discal s'eries 'Of long spots and a post
discal transverse series 'Of small spots~
not always cOlnplete. Hindwing with
a discal band of white spots widening
at ,costa, ,and ,a su b-Inargi na I s,eri es .0 f
spots from below apex to near tornal
angle, Under sid,e : D,e'ep brownIsh,
ferruginous; markings white, broad~
discal band of the hindwing is widened Upper side Male
out at the costa. All 'the white Inarkings
are very prominent. In winter season
form, the white 'I narkings are
narrowed.
Wingspan: 55-60 mm.
Distribution : The spe'c ies is

common from Chi trat (Pakistan) to
Kumaon and ascends to about 8,000
feet in North- West Himalayas.
Uttarakhand Dehra Dun, Harid'war,
Pauri, Almora, ChamoJi, Bageshwar
Pithoragarh and Tehri districts.
nd'c r side Male

KUMAR: Handbook on Common BH1teJ~f1ies of Unarakhalld 85
75. Neptis yerburyi y,e rburyi (Butler)

The Yerbury's Sailer
1886. Neptis yerburyi Butler. Proc. zool. Soc . and.. : 360.
1932. Neptis yerburyi yerbury; (Buller) Evans. The Identification of Indian Butte'ilies. Bombay ll£Jt. Hi.(j/.
Soc., : 167.
General Ecology: It is found in w1eJl-wooded naHahs and ravines, fond of sunlight and
basks on rocks and leaves with it wings held wid open. In the hot, dry weather lnany of
them settle on damp patches near strealTIS.
Diagnostic Characters: Male and

fe ,m ale : Closely r,e sembles with
Neptis mahendra and Neptis hylas.
Upper side : Wings duB black,
elongate and markings creaJny white.
Forewing with a singlle tri,an,gular spot
beyond apex of cell, more elongate
and pointed at apex, the posterior
three of the discal series of spots
shorter and more obliquely placed
the post.. discal series of small spots
more Icomplete. Upper side Male
Under side : Hindwi:ng with the

black edging to the white discal spots
absent. Forewing with the cell end
spot and cell streak being conjoined.
Distribution : The subspecies is

common in its range from Kashruir
to Kumaon and ascends to about
6,000 feet in Hima ayas. Uttarakhand
: Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Haridwar
Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkash 'i and
Pithoragarh districts.
Under side Male
86 Zoological SlIrvey of India
76. Cyrest;s thyodan,as Boisduval

The Common Map uttertly
1836. Cyl~estis lit yo dam as Boisduval, In: CUl'i,e r .$ Reg. Animal. Ins"~ 2, pI. 138, fig . 4,
General Ecology : A v'ery delicate and beautiful butterfly, aptly called Map Butterfly,
because of . ts wings having ITIap like tnarkjngs and irregular outlines. It is often seen soaring
backwafd and forward over Inountains., and streams in richly \vooded areas. It flies very
slowly with a jerky flight, keeping the wings horizontally for longer tilne than any other
Indian butterfly. On al,ert, takes a very erratic .and fast flight. In we' tern Hilnalayas., it visits
flow,ers of Budd'ieia and Ch'e stnut It also visits damp patches.
Upper side Male
Diagnostic Characters: Male and fe.male : Upper side .: Forewing whitish in male and
yellowish in female, with map like black markings and irregular vertical dark outlines across
both wings. Wings broad and s'e mi-transparent. Tornus of forewing and apex of hindwing
cut off. Hindwing tailed at vein 4 and lobed at tomus. Tornus lobe of the hindwing yellowish
brown with a central large round black spot.
Und,er side: Paler, marked much as above, the dusky red markings at the anal angle and
lobe of the hindwing more distinct.

Distribution : This hill species ranges from Kashmir to Kumaon, and ascends to about
8,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand : Almora, ChamoH, Dehra Dun, Haridw,ar, Pauri,
Tehri Rudra Prayag., Bageshwar Pithoragarh and Uttarkash'i districts.
KUMAR: Handbook on Commoll Blittel:/7ies of Ullarakhond 87
77. Hypolinulas hol;"a (Linnaleus)

Th'e Gr1e at Eggfly
1758. Papllio bolina Linnaeus, SySl. Nal . ~ (I O'h ed) : 479, no. 124.
19 II. Hypolimnas bolina (Linna us): Tyfler. J. Bomhay 1101. His!.. Soc .. 21 (1): 54.
Gener:al Ecology A beautiful butterfly rare in the drier portions of western India,
occasionally found in gardens, abundant in the lTIoist regions, particularly in the \Varn1
valleys and sub-Inounta'in tracts. It feeds exclusively on nectar with its wings partially clos~d
whil,e sipping the nectar. It is ·a pugnacious species 'Whl,ch ails forth and cha$es O\\'Hy any
butterfly that conles close.
Upper side [\'la'lc
Diagnostic Characters Body above dark indigo-blue, h ad tnarked \vith a te\v pale
spots; palpi beneath white, abdoInen and thorax with a few whitish spots.
Male : Upper side : Wings very dark indigo blue. Forewing with a large elongated
macular white spot,lnargined with bright bluish from upper disco cellular to vein 3, with ,a
row of small white ocelli from apex to the tornus of hindwing. Hindwing with a broad
rnedial whitish fascia. Under side: Dark olivaceous brown. Forewing with the white Inarkings
as above, but with the large macular spot almostext,ending to costa, not prominently lnargined
with bluish, and followed by a small pale spot beneath the second Inedlan nerv.ure. Hind\ving
with a smaJl sub-costal pale bluish spot followed by a paler medial fascia 'iending at the inner
margin, sub .. m,arginal area pale greyish, with some dots.
Female: Upper side: Dark brown with outer diseat row of slnall, pale yellow or whitish
spots on both wings. Forewing with concave margin, having more or less obscure lnarginal
and inner terminal markings. Two blue spots in the cell in wet season form and one in dry
season form. Hindwing with broad pale yellow or white tennen, hearing a dark wavy line
or band. 'Under side : Brown with bands of white spots and patches. The female of this
species is a good mimi,c of The Common Indian Crow (Eupolea cOJ'ie).
Wingspan : 70-1l0 m'ln.
Distribution : The species is widely distributed and found ahnost throughout the plains.
It ascends nonnally to about 7,000 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanlnar.
Uttarakhand : Almora, D,ehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Bageshwar, Pithor,agarh and Tehri districts.
78. Hypolimnas ".;sippus (Linnaeus)

The Danaid Eggfly
1764. Papilio Imsippus Linnaeus, Mus. Ludoy. Vir., : 264 pI.. 20 fig. 85.
1932. Hypolimnas inachus (Linnaeus) : Evans~ Identification o/Indian BUlle/llies. ed., 2 : )75, pI. 23, fig.
30.1.
General Ecology: It is common in the regions of moderat,e rainfaH and open country,
especiaHy during the lTIOnSoon. It flies and settles much closer to the ground, generally
settling on a prominent place in sunlight. The females are very shy and found ne;a r food
plants. The female is a wond1erful mimic of the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) both in
appearance and habits. It is a strong and fast flier' visits flowers of Lantana., Cotnmon
Zinnia, Sunflower and Marigold.
Diagnostic Characters : Body above
concolourous with wings.; head spotted with
white; body beneath UUSCOUS, spotted with
white; legs fuscous, greyish-white beneath;
palpi white heneath.
Male: Upper side: Wings very dark
indigo blue. Forewing with an oblong sub-
api1cal white spot; a large elongated white
spot in the apex. Hindwing with a large pper side M,a e
irregularly rounded discal white spot. Both
wings with the discal patch surrounded by
iridescent purplish blue Under side : Fore-
wing with the large discal spot as above.
Hindwing with reddish ochraceous crossed
by a broad white fase'l a, oval spots
prominent, which in the hindwing occupy
the entire discal area and a prominent black
,costal spot.
Female : Upper side : Reddish
ochraceous.. Forewing with b[a1ck margin
from base, widening across apex of cell and
curving and terminating at anal angle. Under
side : Forewing as above. Hindwing light
orange with three black spots and a row of Upper s'de Female
small sub-marginal white spots.
Distribution : The species is common throughout India, ascending to about 7,500 to
9,500 feet in Himalayas. Also OCCUtS in Pakistan, Bangladesb, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar,
'China, Africa ,and Australia. Uttarakhand: Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri and Tehri districts.
KUMAR : Handbook 011 Common Bultet/1ies of Ullarakllond 89
79. Kallin,a inachlls (Boisduval)

The Orange Oak-Leaf
18.36. Papillo inachus BoisduvaJ, In : Cuvj'er's Reg. Anim. Ins. , 2 : pI. 139., fig. 3.
1882. Kalima inachis (Sic) (Boisduval) , De Niceville. J.A sial. Soc. Beng. 51(2~ 3) : 58.
General Ecology: It is one of the most bea uti ~u l butterfl y alnong Ny rnphal id wi th tbe :I
upper side being beautiful and brightly coloured. The leaf-like under side is lnost \\'( nderful
example of protle ctive resemblance. It is
difficult to locate the butterfly once it settles
down on a twig, riverside boulder, tre,e trunks
-or on ground with its wings closed. It is found
in the thick forests of mountainous and hilly
districts, at low or moderate elevations. This
species, a fast flier, gets attracted to ov,er-ripe
fruits and damp patches.
Diagnostic Characters : Male and female
: Upper side : Wings dark violet-blue to deep
steel blue with orange discal band and broad
black band on the forewing. Forewing ·Iarge,
sub-triangular; costa very much rounded,
slightly emigrate near the ba "e; apex less or
more acute and produced; outer margin five- Upper side Male
sixths of the length of the costa, concave
below the apex. Hindwing elongate, sub~ 1
triangular; ,costal margin much attached at the

base, outer margin rounded, ana l angle
gradually produced into a tail.
Under side: Much different from the upper
side., all shades of bright coloration rather
dull and like a dead and dry leaf, like midrib
with vein branching off from midnb and often
marked with spots, blotches as if of fungus
and mould on dead le,aves in dry season form.
This species has well marked seasonal
variation, the dry s'eason form being paler
than wet season form.
Wingspan : 85-110mm . Under side Male
Distribution: 'The species ranges from Kashluir eastw'ards through Kumaon to Sikkhn and
Assam, also reco~ded fr{)m 'Orissa and Maharashtra. Also occurs in Nepal and Myanlnar.
Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Tehri :and Uttarkashi districts up to an altitude of 8,000 te'et.
90 Zoological Survey ofb,dia
80,. Ju"ollia hierta hierta (Fabricius)

The Yellow Pansy
1758. Papilio hierta Fabricius, Ellt. Syst.. (Suppl) : 424, no. 2,81 .
1932. Juuonia hei.rta (Fabricius) Evans. Tlte IdentificatiQIJ ofl"dian Bfluelilies. Bombay nat. His.l. Soc.,
: 176.
General Ecology : A beautiful species that prefers hot and sunny places in the forests"
parti,cularly fond of dry riverbeds, stony uncultivated fields and roads; very often fly in fr'o ot
of the collector. It flies slightly just above the ground and intermittently settling and flying
not far from the collector's sight. It Inay be s'een almost throughout Ithe year.
!U pper side Male Under side Male
Diagnostic ,Characters: Male: Upper side: Black. Fore-wing with broad tnedial yellow
patch, extending from the base to beyond the disco . . ceHular, and then narrowed and bent
downward.; two short paler yellow str'eaks before the apex. Hindwing black, with large broad
sub..anal yellow patch, and a 'large distinct blue sub-basal spot. Under side : Forewing pale
y,eHow brown; medial patch paler yellow and suffused outwardly, ,cross'ed by bla,ck discoidal
lines; two black discal spots. Hindwing with basal half greyish-yellow ~ discal area pale
yellow, crossed with brown lunular 'lines. Female : Upper side : Forewing dark yellowish-
brown, with the yel10w patch paler, shortened basally, and crossed by two black lines on
'middle of the cell, and a broader disco-cellular band; black ocelli present in area 2 and 5.
Hindwing with very smaU upper and lower disc.al 'Ocelli, and two marginal lunular yellowish
lines. Under side : As in male.
Distribution : 'This subspecies is very ,common at Jow elevations and plains in India, but
less common above 4,000 feet and ascends to about 9,000 feet in Himalayas,. Also occurs
in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Nainital, Pithoragarh.,
Tehri, Uttarkashi and Udham Singh Nagar districts,.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Bune-lilies of Uuar,a khand 91
81. Junonia orithya ( innaeus)

The B:l ue Pansy
1764. Papilio orithya Linnaeus, Mus. Ludov. Vir., : 278, no. 96.
1994. JunOllia oritlJya (Linnaeus): Varshney, OrienJal Insect, 28 : 176.
General Ecology: One of the prettiest of Indi.an butterflies, found throughout the country
but more in dry, open plains than in ·fof,ests. The dry riverbeds and stony paths areils
favourite habitats; remains active during th,e hottest part of the day.. It visits flower of
Marigold~ Bachelor's button~ Lantana. Heliotrope etc.
Under side Male
.Diagno ·tic Characters: Male; Upp,er side: Forewing: Basal two-thirds blue bJack, apex
pale brown with white transverse bands; outer discal area below apex shining blue; two
orange ringed ocelli in area 2 and .5. Hindwing shining blue with two ocelli near outer
margin in ·area 2 .and 5; a black basal angular patch curving across the cell towards the anal
,angle, and merging into brown on the abdomen margin; two pale marginal lines.
Under side : Dull ochraceous,with white m,ark' ngs and wavy lines. Ocelli visible in
forewing only_
~ema./e : Larger than the m.ale, both the ocelli more profninent and of a bright red. Upper
side: Basa) half area of hindwing being entire"y black. Both the sexes are variable in colour
and markings due to seasonal variation. The dry season form being pale stone grey ,colour
on under side, compared to that in wet season form.
Wingspan .: 40-6.0 mm.
Distribution .: The species ranges from Pakistan ·eastwards through Him.alayas to SikkitTI.
The species is common in India during March t'0 October in North-west Hitnalayas and
ascends to about 9,000 feet. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Uttarakhand : D,ehra
Dun, Chamoli, Haridwar, Pauri, Rudra Prayag, Pithoragarh, 'Tehri, Uttarkashi and Udhaln
Singh Nagar districts.
82. JUllo,I Iia lenlollia,s (Linna,eus)

Th,e Lemon Pansy
1758. Papilio lemollias ionaeus, Syst. Nat., (lOth ed,) : 473, no. 91.
1994. Jrtnonia Jemonias (Linnaeus). ': Varshney, Oriental Insect, 28 : 176.
Gen~ral Ecology: A som'ewhat bold butterfly, having strong territorial and aggressive
behaviour. It tli'es quickly and strongly but with less fluttering .of wings,. (t visits various
species of flowers viz,. antana, Bachelor's Bottom,) Cosmos etc. and rests on ground. On
approaching, it darts ahead with rapid wing beating, but settles soon not v,ery far.
Di.agnostic Characters: Male and female: Upper side: Forewing dark brown or greyish
brown with the cell crossed by slender
wav,ed black Iines near base, two
waved black lines enclosed a pale
yet lowish-brown band beyond the
middle, and a similarly coloured band
at about end of cell; discal and sub-
marginal series of yellowish-brown
spots extending on the tornal angle
and two blue centered red ringed
ocelli in area 2 and 5, the ocellus in
area 2 indistinct and prominent in area
5.. Hindwing dull yellowish-brown
with a large ocellus enclosing 2-
minute white spots and lower bla,ck
ae
spot.
Under side : Yellowish-brown in male, pinkish in female with sev,e ralwavy lines and
the lower ocellus in the forewing visible. The seasonal v,ariation is quite well marked., with
th,e ocelli on wings prominent in wet season form ,and reduced in dry season form.
Wingspan : 45-60 mm,
DistributIon : This is widespread and comlnon species occurring almost everywhere in

the plains in region of heavy rainfall. It is distribut'ed from Kashmir to Kumaon, Assam and
asc'ends to about 8,000 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Uttarakhand
: Almora, DehraDun, Haridwar, Pauri, Nainital, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Tehri, Champawat,
Uttarkashi and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
KUMAR: H,a ndbook on Common Butterflies of Uuarakltand 93
83 . Juno,,;a ain,ana allna,.,a ( innaeus)

he Peacock P,ansy
1758. Papilio a/mana Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., (lOth ed.) : 472, no. 89.
1932. Junoni,a a/mana a/mana (Linna'e us): Va rshney, Orienla/ Insect, 28 : 176.
General Ecology A cornmon and beautiful butterfly, found in cultivat,ed areas, forest
=
clearings and paths. It basks in sunshine, in the early morning. It has a highly territorial
behavior and often chases away intruders.. It visits flowers of Marigold, Lantana., Land
C,altrops etc.
Upper side Male 'Under side Male
Diagnostic Characters : Male and female : Upper side : Forewing orange-yellow, the
cell and the costal area to near the apex of wing crossed by four short dark bands, a pale-
centered ocellus with the two black rings and generally two pre-apical ocelli. Hindwing
with three border lines as on fore'wing but well defined, a very large pale yellow black-
ringed .ocellus spreading over interspaces 4 to 7, the center inwardly reddish-yellow with
two white spots, outw,ardly black. In some specimens a small black-ringed ocellus in
interspace 2 is pr,esent. Under side ! Leaf-like and pale yellowish brown. In wet season
form, the ocelli :a remore prominent on hindwing andm.argins of wings smooth. In dry
season form, the apex in forewing is prominently toothed and without ocelli, hindwing is
produced into a narrow tail.
Distribution : This subspecies occurs throughout India, ascending t.o about 7,500 feet in
Himalayas. Also .occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Uttarakhand : Almora, Deh~a 'Dun,
Handwar, Pauri, Bageshwar and Tehri districts.
94 Zoological Survey 0.( l.ndia
84. Junon;a atlites ( innaeus)

The Grey Pansy
1763. Papifi.o attifes Linnaeus, Cent. Ins., : 24., no. 72.
1994. J"1'Ionia atlites (Linnaeus) : Corbet & Pendlebury, Butterflies of Malaya Peninsula : 59
General Ecology : Inhabits heavy rainfall regions and does not occur in dry areas; very
fond of settling on shrubs close to wet areas. It visits flowers of various plants.
Di~gnostic Characters : Male and female: Upper side :; Pale grey. Forewing with two
wavy black lines crossing the middle of the cell, and two similar ones at the end of the cell;
a very waved and fuscous line crossing the wings a little beyond the e·en, and betwe·en this
and the outer margin are two waved fuscous lines, between which the colour is distinctly
paler,and is marked with a series of six oceHated spots, of which the first, 2 and 5 are largest
and'most brightly coloured. Hlndwing with two waved fuscous lines 'c rossing end of the ceU,
and remaining m.a rkings similar and
continuous to those on the for,ewing;
only five ocelli an:~ present, some
of the ocelli in both 'w ings are
orange-yellow on the inside. Under
side: Very pale; the cell crossed by
the fuscous lines ,as above; the ocel i
more distinct; marginal and sub
marginal lines indistinct. Female
larger in size and generally darker
in colour than the male; the
ocellated spots above larger and
mor,e distin,c t, with the area on
which they are placed much paler.
Upper side Male
Wingspan : 55 .. 65 mm.
Distribution : 'T he species is very common throughout plains of .India and occurs around
paddy fields, ascends up to 7,500 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
China and Malaysia.. Uttarakhand : Almora, Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Tehri, Chamoli, Nainita'l,
Champawat, Bageshwar,Udham Singh Nagar, Pauri and Uttarkashi districts.
KUMAR : Handbook on Common Blillel:/7ies of Ut,t arakhand 95
85 . Junonia iphita (Cramer)

The Chocolate P,a osy
1779. Papillo iphilo Cramer, Pap. ExoJ., 3 : pI. 209, figs. C, D,.
1992. JUlfonia iphilO (Cramer) . Corbet & Pendlebury, .Butlerflies of Malaya Peninsula : J59.
General Ecology: It is found in wetter and w,eH-wooded hilly regions, it is seldom found
in the plains of upp,er India and never in the dri'er parts. It is fond of settling on damp
patches, w,et roads and shady places. It also visits flowers of various species,. It has a bold
flight, but not to any gr at distance, rests with \vin gs closed.
Diagnostic Characters : Male and female : Upper sid,e : Forewing brown w,ith indistinct
dark brown bands; the apical half of wing is somewhat paler and sub-,apical spotwhitish~
sub-ma~ginal lines wavy and dark. Hindwing with the ,apical half paler and 'with the band'
on the forew ing continued, but the inner one lnorew,aved:; four to five oceHated spoOts
between area 2 and 5. Sub-marginal lines as on forewing. Under side : Paler; both wings
crossed by two somewhat broad., dark, basal fascae, tbe first crossing the middle of cleH of
the forewing, curved inwardly on cell of hindwing, the second crossing forewing at the apex
of cell, and tenninating on hindwing a little beyond end of cell; oceUated spots obscure on
both the wings. In dry-season form, the apex of forewing is produced and angulated and the
hindwing lobed at tornal angle, with the under side paler and leaf-like.
Wingspan ': 55-80mm.
Distribution : The species occurs throughout the Himalayas as far west as 'Kashtnir,
ascending up to 9,000 feet, and also found in central andsouthem India. AlsoO occurs in Sri
Lanka and Myanmar. Uttar,akhand: Almora, Chamoli, Dehra Dun., Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri,
Bageshwar, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Tehri, Uttarkasbi and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
96 Zoological Survey of flldia
86. Cynthia cardu; (Linnaeus)

'T he Painted Lady
1758. Papillo cardu; Linnaeus, Syst. Nat" (IO'hed.) : 475, no, J07.
1971. Cynthia ca1d,,; (Linnaeus) Field, Smithson COJltr. Zool., 84 : 37.
General Ecology A cosmopolitan species, se'en in fields~ gardens, highways, open

grounds, disturbed human habitations and waste lands. It is gready attracted by flowers. Its
flight is rapid., dashing and discontinuous and loves to return to the same spot from where
it is driven. It basks with both the wings fully open and rests with wings Iclosed or p,artly
closed.
Diagnostic Characters : ,Male and female : Upper side : Both wings ochraceous·red.
Forewing with basal ar,e,a ochraceous brown, an oblique irregular..shaped angular band from
Iniddle of cell to the tornal angle, before the apex is a short white band and a curved series
of four spots, margin dark brown. Hindwing with the basa1 area, a confluent discaI band and
the costal bOfder ochraceous brown, a transverse disca) row of five black spots with slightly
paler outer ring, a sub..:margina\ row ofl~nu\ar spots, and 'a marginal row of larger spots.
Under side : For,ewing similar as upper side but the basal area more red and the apex and
outer margin ochraceous, some additional black spots on forewing cell. Hindwing ochraceous,
richly spotted and marbled with deep shades of ochraceous ,and brown, an ov.al spot across
the middle of cell and the row of five discaI spots as above but developed into ocelli, the
2 and 5 largest, with blue c,enters and black outer rings.
Distribution: Widely distributed and well known throughout India, as a migratory species,
all over the world. In ndia, it ascends to about 5,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttar.akhand :
Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Almora, Rudra Prayag, Bageshwar, Champawat, 'Udham
Singh Nagar, Nainital., Pauri, Pithoragarh, Tehri and Uttarkashi distri,cts.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Bultelilies of UUcu'akluH,d 97
87. Vanessa in(/ica (Herbst)

The Indian Red Admiral
1794. Papilio atlanta indica Herbst, Nat. Schmett., 7 : 171, no. 64, pI. 180, figs. ),2.
19l1. Vanessa indica (Herbst) Tyller, J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. , 21(1) : 62,.
General Ecology: Inhabits wooded region, forests, and open country. disturbed hUlnan
habitations and gardens. It flies rapidly up and down, frequently settling on the ground with
the wingsthr,e,e ~fourths or half open. It is always wary and difficult to ,approach, best caught
when feeding on flowers. 'G,ets attracted to droppings, dung and rotting fruits.
Diagnostic Characters : Male ,and

female : Upper side : Forewing dark
brown or black, with a broad medial
oblique irregular red band having three
large black spots~ basal area and posterior
margin golden brown; apical half black,
with a sub... apical series of white quadrate
spots and an outer apical series of white
smaH dots. Hindwing golden brown, with
marginal red band baving small black
spots in the center. Under side : Paler.
Forewing with three small blue spots
beyond the cell. Hindwing with dark
brown, beautifully marked, marbled and Upper side Male
irrorated with 'white, grey, dark brown to
black; marginal area pale ochra'ceous.
Wingspan : 55 ..65 mm.

Distribution : Common wherever its
food-plant, the nettles are found. It rnnges
from Kashmir eastwards to Myanmar and
ascends to about 9,000 feet in North-west
Himalayas. Also occurs in South India.
Uttarakhand : Almora,D'e hra Dun,
Haridwar, Chamoli, Bageshwar,
Champawat, Udha.m Singh Nagar,
Nainital, Pauri, Pithor,agarh, Tehri and
ud,c r side 1\ •• h:'
98 Zoological Survey ol/i.diQ
88. Van,essa (!gea (Cramer)

The Eastern Comma
1775. Papilio ,egea Cramer, Pap. Exol.., 1 : pI. 78, figs. C, D.
1886. J{allessa ege,a (Cramer) .: De Niceville, The BuueJ:/Ues of India. 8111'/11(1 alld Ceylon. 2 : 237.
Gen€l'ai .Ecology : Inhabits grassy meadows and open hilltops at high elevations. There
is considerable difference between the spring and autumn forms, the spring forms being
pale, especially in the nortbern parts of its range . It flies rapidly and swi ftly. It frequently
settles on the ground or on leaves.

female: Upper side .: Both wings pal'e
reddish-yellow, the outer margin w'th
two dusky red lines, with a series of
indistinct pale yeUowlunules within.
Forewing with two black spots, one
above the other in the middle of the
celJ, a large quadrate black spot from
the ,costa to the third ffi,edian nervule
at its end, a round spot in the middl,e
of the sub-median interspace, a
diffused blackish patch on the costa Upper side Male
near the apex. Hindwing with a bla,ck
spot on the middle of the costa
reaching the s,e'cond sub-costal
nervule, and another at the end of
the cell.
Under side : Both wings pale

brown, beautifully marbled and
streaked with v.arious shades of the
ochraceous, brown, and black, a
discal irregular pale band. Hindwing
with a white mark at the end of the
cell formed of two straight lines.
Wingspan: 45 65 mm. Under side Male
Distribution : The speci,es ranges from Baluchistan (Pakistan) eastwards to Nepal and
Bhutan and asc,e nds to about 11,000 feet in western Himalayas.. Uttarakhand Tehn and
KUMAR: Handbook on COl1tmon Bultel:!lies of Uuarakhand 99
89. Aglais cashmirens.is (Kollar)

The Indian 'Tortoise-shell
1844. Vaness,Q cashmirensis Kollar In .' Hugel's Kaschmir ul1d das Reich der Siek, 4(2) : 442, no. 1, pI.
J I, figs. 3-4.
1983. Aglais cashmirensis (KoJlar) : Varshney, Rec. zoo/. Sun!. India, Occ, Paper No .. 47 : 8 .
'General Ecology: Cotnmonest species of the North .. West Hilnalayas, found an the year
round.. It can be seen in an kinds of terrain. It visits various kinds of flowers like TaraXllCUln
officina Ie, Aster sikkimensis, Gentiana carinata etc. It loves sunshine and can be seen
basking on paths with the wings widespread. The flight is rapid, always close to the ground
seldom sustained for long distance.,
Upper side M,ale
Diagnostic Characters : Male and jelna/e : Upper side : Both wings coloured ri'ch
chestnut. Forewing with a quadrate black bar across the rniddle of the e,ell, then a pale
yeUow bar, then another much larger black bar, with anotber narrower pale yellow bar
beyond it, with a small bluish-white ,c ostal spot placed outwardly against it. Apex cut off at
the tip and produced and angulated at vein 6. Hindwingwith a basal area blackish~ inner
m,argin paler in basa.l half; outer margin bl,ack, bearing,.prominent bluish lunules, followed
by two paler lines:;ma~gin toothed at vein 4. Under side: Both wings brown at bases, paler
beyond, and thickened striated with black; a sub-marginal lunulated black line . Forewing
with a narrow oval black spot with pale center at the base of the cell, two fine black zig-
zag lines enclosing a black space across the lniddle of c'elL Hindwing with prolninent
ochraceous spot at the lower end of the cell, and two fine bla,c k lines enclosing a blackish
space across its middle. It shows seasonal variations, the wet season fonn being bright1er and
dry season fonn shows darker broods
Wingspan : 55 .. 65 min.
Distribution: The s'p e,e ies ranges from Waziristan (Pakistan) to Sikkiln, and i" cornlnon
in its range fro.m low ,elevations t.o 15,000 feet in itnalayas. Uttarakhand: Ahnora, Chalnoll,
Tehri, Pauri, Rudra Prayag., Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi district
100 ZOO/OgiClI/ Srtrl'ey of 11Idia
90. Kallb.ka CQnace (Linnaeus)

The B:lue Ad.m iral
1767 . Papilio canac(' Linnacu: . Syst. Nat. (1211 ed .), 1(2) : 779. no . 173 .
] 983. Kalliska caJlace (Linnaeus) : Varshncy, Rec.. zool. Sun 1, Inc#a. Occ. Paper No. 47 : 8.
Gen~ral Ecology It is found in the wooded country of hilly regions and vicinity of
water. It flies fast :a nd straight, up and down over streatnbeds, roads paths etc. It trequendy
settl,es on dalnp patches. over ripe fruits~ sugar, hon y and sap. It rar,ely visit flowers . It has
a favourite re ting spot to \vhich it leturns again rather hard to catch.
U.ppcr side l\1alc
Diagnostic Characters ; Male and jenlale Upper side Both wings deep indigo~blue,
crossed by a broad discal pater blue band with a fe·w white dots at the anterior end, the band
gradually increasing the width froln the costa to the anal ,angle, ,and bearing a series of slnaH
black spots along its outer border in the hind wing~ ·inner margin lighter; outer margin lobed
at vein 4. Forewing with the costa more or less broad blue bar. Under side: Most beautifully
vadegat.:ed and striated with hla,ck, green, ochraceous, pale violet and ferruginous, cross,ed
by a prominent discal dark broad band, with the edges irregular and scaHoped. Fore wing
with a smaU ochraceous spot ,at the outer lower end of the cell. Hind wing with a prominent
tail like projection in the middle. Female, usually larger than the m.ale., markings similar, but
the marginal blue lines usually obsolete, the angulations of the outer rnargins broader and
larger.
Distribution : The species ranges from Chitral (Pakistan) eastwards through Kum,aon to
Sikkitn and Assam., ascending to about 9,000 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Myanlnar.
Uttarakhand : Alrnora, Chamoli, Dehra Dun Nainital, Rudra Prayag, Bageshwar, Champawat,
Udham Singh Nagar, Pithoragarh, Tehri ,andUttarkashi districts.
KUMAR : Handbook on Common Bulter/lies of UUarakhaud lOt
91 . Argyreus hpperbius hype,rbius (Johanss,en)

The Indian Fritillary
J764. Papillo llyperhius j-ohanss'en, Amoen A cad. , 6 : 408, no. 75.
1932. Argyreus hyperhius hyperhius (Johanssen) : Evans, Identification Qf Indian Butter/lies, : 182.
General Ecology: It is one of the beautiful species of the family Nymphalidae. It occurs
in the hilly regions and seen in open areas, ,cultivated fields and gardens in the plains. 'It
visits flow'ers of Zinnia" Aztec, Marigold, Buckwheat ,etc. It rests on the ground with wings
closed and sometimes basks with its wings three-fourths open. The male is a fairly fast flier
compared to the female.
Diagnostic Characters: Male: Upp,er s'ide : Wings bright orange yeHow with yel10wish
green base. Forewing with black sinuous cellular lines, quadrate, triangle, dentate., and round
spots; marginal lines. Hindwing pale; 7 discal spots .and Inarginal border black and dentate
and followed by a row of slender brown or bilue lunules.
Under side : Forewing red on basal

area, pale ochrac,eous and greenish at
apex. Apex with two apical series of white
lunules. Female: Upper side: Brownish-
ochra:c eous on basal ar,ea; marking
broader; apical area with blue black
interspac,es and obliquely crossed by a
white band. Under side: Forewing reddish
and other markings as on male but larger.
Hind wing greenish, ochrae,eous-brown,
crossed by three black .zigzag lines and a
Upper side Male
sub-m,arginal line broadly bordered by
silv'ery white; a discal row of spots
c,entered with silvery.
Distribution : The subspecies is

distributed from Chitral (Pakistan) to
Ass,am, recorded also from Madhya
Pradesh and Mt.Abu, in Rajasthan,
asc'e nding toO about '9,000 feet in
Hilnalayas. AlsoO occurs in Nepal and
Myanm,ar. Uttarakhand : Almora,
Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pauri,
Rudra Prayag, 'T1ehri, Pithoragarh and
Uttarkashi distr' cts.
)02 Zoologi<:al Survey of India
92. Issorialathonia (Linnaeus)

'T h,e Queen of Spain FritiUary
1767. Papilio lalllol1;a Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (l2 1'h ed.), 1(2) : 7,86. no, 213.
1990. Issoria lalhonia (Linnaeus) : Va rshney, Revised ,Nomenclature for Buttel:11y (,Qxa .' Jour. Bom. nat.
Hist. Soc .. 87 : 60.
General Ecology : It is a common butterfly of telneprate region, found in the forest

clearings, hilltops and paths. t flies at lower ,elevations throughout the year. Its flight is rapid
and zig~zag, close to the ground. It visits flower of Taraxacilln officina/e. Prilnula denticulate,
Aster etc. and is onen s'een basking with its wings three-fouths opened.
pper s:i de 1\1alc
Diagnostic Characters : Male = Upper side: tawny, with bla,ck spots. Forewing with the
base" costa and inner margin tawny, hindwing with basal and abdominal area widely, mottled
with darker coloured scales. Forewing with a reniform spots enclosing a portion of the
gr.ound colour, a transv,erse spot beyond and .one ,closing the end of the ,cell. H indwing with
a spot closing the cell, three angled series of black spots in continu.ation of those on the
forewing, the outer margin as on forewing.
Under side :. Paler., Forewing with the subm,arginal series of black spots pupilled with
silver, a prominent sliver spots within the upper most spot of this series, and a five apical
marginal sHver spots increasing to the third which is the 'largest. Hindwing yellowish brown
with a large silver spot.
Wingspan : 50-60mm.
Distribution: The species is one of the commonest Himalayan species of Ar-gyrelts and
ascendIng to about 5,000 to 8,000 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Nepal and Myanmar.
Uttarakhand : Almora, Cham.oli, Dehra Dun, P,auri, 'Tehri, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi districts.
KUMAR : Ha11dbook 011 COmmOll Butteljlies of Uuarakltalld 103
93. Chi/drena childreni (Gray)

The Large Silver Stripe
t 831 , Argynnis children; Gray, Zool. Misc., I : 33.
1990,. Childrena childreni (Gray) : Varshney, Revis,ed Nomenclature Buuerfly taxa" Jow: Bom. l1al, Hist.
Soc" 87 : ~9 ,
General Ecology ': It is the finest of all Indian FritiHaries and attains largest size. It is a
North-West Himalayan species, It flies very rapidly and can be f70und along grass slop'es,
roads, in glades and in open country. It frequently s,eules on the ground and flowers' rather
an UnCOITI'm On spe,cies.
Upper side Mal,e Under side Male
Diagnostic Characters: Male: Upper side: Forewing dark or.ange with two narrow
sinuous lines ,across the middle of the cell. Pre,-apical area pale orange; black spots in lniddle
and end of cel , the fonner not touching the medial nervule ,and followed by two sub-
marginal series of rounded spots. Hindwing as the forewing; with a streak at the end of the
cell, a discal-angular series of six spots beyond the cell, an inner sub-marginal series of five
round spots, another series of eight spots beyond, becoming sOlnewhat lunular towards the
anal angle; margin dentate. Under side : Forewing red; pre-apical area ochraceous and the
apex greenish, crossed by two silvery lines; other markings as above but more prominent.
Hindwing rich shining greenish ochraceous" crossed by 'm,any silvery lines and bands, edged
black on one or both sides; outer margin dentate. Head and body thickly c:tothed with
fulvous hairs
Female: Differs from the male only in the ground colour ,as under side being much dull.
Wingspan : 75-100 Inm.
Distribution: The species ranges from 'Chitral (Pakistan) to Kumaon and Assam. ascending
to about 7,000 to 10,000 fe,et in Himalayas. Al 0 occurs in Myanmar. 'Uttarakhand : Ahnora,
Chamoli, Nainital, Tehri, Rudra Prayag, Bageshwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Uttarkashi
districts.
104 ZQologlc,a l Survey o/India
94. Fabricialt,a ka,"ala (Moore)

The Common Silver-stripe
1857 . Argyl1llis kamala Moore. In . Horsfield and Moore~s Cal Lep Mus. E.I.C. 1 : 156, no. 324.
1990. Fabrici,QIlQ kamala (Moor'e) : Varshney, Revised Nomenclature for Bunerfly taxa, Jour. Bom. nat.
Hijt. Soc ... 87 : 59.
General Ecology It is tnuch slnal1er than Childl':ena childreni, found along roads, in
glades, at the edges of forest and in open country, frequently pitching on the ground or on
shrubs, thistles, bralubles and visits low growing flowers. The flight is fast and rapid.
ppcr side l"ale
Diagnostic Characters: Male ,a nd f emale Upper side: Wings golden-yeUow. Forewing

dusky ochraceous at the bas'e, all the v,eins deeply marked with black, sub-marginal row of
spots are less defined and continuous" marginal row is connected between the vein-lets by
a narrow line,. Hindwing with an irregular zig-zag inner bla'ck band, than a row of five round
black spots, and a sub-lnarginal row of seven linear-shaped spots" also a marginal black line.
Under side: Forewing with the markings as on upper sidle, apex dusted with dark gr,een
scales bearing two Hnes of silvery spots. Hindwing beautiful metalHc green with five silvery
sub-tnarginal and inner bands and a seri,es of m,arks about the basal half silvery white;
between the suh-marginal and inner band some sm,all spalces of yellow, and an indistinct r'ow
of reddish spots.
Wingspan: 65 ~ 75 mm.
Distribution : The species is common frolnChitral (Pakistan) to KUlnaon froln above

6,000 teet, and ascends to ,about 10, 000 fe,et in Himalayas Uttarakhand : Almor.a, Chamoli
and Rudra Prayag districts.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common BUller.flies of Ullarakhand 105
95 . Phalanta phalantha phala,n tha (Drury)
The Common L,e opard
1773. Papilio pJralantha Drury, II/us. l1at. Hist. 1 : pI. 21, figs. I, 2.
1997. Phatanta pllalantha pllo/allllta (Drury) : Varshney et al. . Rec. zool. Surv. India, Oec. Paper No .. 31
: 18-19.
General Ecology : A very 'Common species, occurring in the gardens and at the edg1es
of jungles. It avoids shady places. It visits flowers of Lantana, hisHes, Pigeon berry, Tridax
species and damp patches, and wet roads. Sometimes dozens of individuals assemble atlnud
puddling sit'e sin the hot season. It is fond of basking in sunshine. lts flight is fast with jerky
movements. It has a very strong territorial behaviour and chases any butterfly, which ,comes
in its range.
Diagnostic Characters: Male andfema.le

: Upper side: Wings bright yellowish brown
with row of -black spots and wavy lines.
Forewing with the apical half of the costal
margin having four narrow waved fasciae, a
straight dis'cal series of six spots plac'ed
between the nervules, followed by a similar
series of four spots, a sub-marginal series of
black spots from apex to above vein 2, the
spot below vein 2 rounded and largest; inner Upper side Male
marginal area without any spot. Hindwing
with some transversely wayed linear fasc' ae
on basal area; a discal series of four rounded
spots; two waved sub-marginal fasciae with
a marginal series of elongate spots. Under
side : Similar as above but most of dark
m,arkings v1ery paler and glossy and the dry
season form has a more prominent purple
gloss on the upper side. The upper side of
this species ,closely resembles that of an
Argyreus.
Under side Male
Wingspan : 50 .. 60 m'm.
Distribution : The subspecies occurs throughout the year in the plains of India and
ascends to about 8,000 feet in HimaJayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Myanmar.
Uttarakhand : Almora, Dehra Dun, Haridwar., Rudra Prayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Nainitak
Pauri, Udham Singh N,agar, Pithoragarh and Tehri districts .
]06 Zoological Survey of India
96. Ariadne n.,eriolJe (Cralner)

The Common Castor
1777. Papilio meriOlle Cramer, Pap. xot., 2 : pI. 144-Figs. G, H.
1932. Ariadne merione (Cramer) : Nandi & Varshney, Rec. zool. Sun. India, 85(1) : 127.
Gen~ral Ecology: Also known as Castor Butterfly, abundant :in the hills and forested
areas. It oc'curs in castor fields and around edges and bushes. It 'Occurs throughout the year.
It is a w,eak flier and prefers to -fly close to the ground and in the neighborhood of its host
plant, i.e., Castor.
Diagnostic Characters : Male and

female : Upper side : Wings rusty
brown. Forewing with a sub-apical
smaU white spot and tr.ansy,erse black
wavy lines and discal lines doubled.
Forewing with a series ofobscur,e sPoOts
with in the sub-marginal markings. The
outer ledge of fore wing much rounded.
Hindwing with the markings similar
and generally continuous with those of
Upper side l\1,ale
the forewing, but the inner of the three
sub. . marginal lines replaced by a series
of ,castaneous spots placed between the
nervules.
Und,er side : Duller and slightly
darker than upper side, the transverse
dark bands broader and more diffuse.
Forewing with a small whitish spot in
the pre-apical are,a. In dry season form
specimens, the ground colour paler, the
transverse lines moOre distinctly in pairs,
forming bands.
Distribution : The species is quite common (roln Kashtnir to Kumaon and ascends
to about 7,000 feet in North West Hitnalayas, recorded also from Orissa and Madhya
Pradesh. A1so occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Uttarakhand :Almora, Dehra Dun,
Haridwar, Nainital, Bageshwar, Champawat, Pauri, Pithorag,arh, Tehri and Udham Singh
Nagar districts.
KUMAR: Ha11dbook ,on Common Butte 1ilies of Ullarakhand 107
91. Cupha erymanthis (Drury)

The Rusti,c
}770. Papilio ,erymanthis Drury, Exot. Ent.• J ; pI. 15, Figs. J-4.
/ ,883. Cup/la elymanthis (Drury), J. Asial. Soc. Beng., 51(2-3) : 58.
General Ecology' Inhabitant of thickly forested areas. It flies close to the ground with
a w,e ak flight. When disturbed, it dives into the undergrowth. Both the sexes Vlsit flo\\'ers
and males occasionally to damp patches.

female: Upper side: Wings yellowish
brown. Forewing with broad and rounded
black apex, with two yellowish irregular
spots, bright yellow transverse discal
band having 3 black spots. H.i ndwing
with narrow, black, strongly and irregular
waved line crossing wing near apex of
ceU followed by a disc.al series of five
black spots in interspaces 2 to 6; a post
discal series of black lunules, a sub~
Upper side Male
tenninal black band.
Under side : As abov.e but pale

o'c hraceou'S. Forewing apical area
brownish; ,a discal, transverse, slender,
chest-nut.. brown lunular line bordered
outwardly by a series of dark spots, and
an inner and an outer trasverse sub-
terminal series of small den ate spots.
Hindwing with a transeverse d.iscal series
of lunules outwardly margined with
purple, followed by a series of dark black
spots.
Wingspan : 5.0-60 mm . nder side IVlnlc
.Distribution ; The species occurs from Mussoorie (western Himalaya) to ASSalTI and
Sikkim., ascends to .about 5,000 feet in 'w estern Himalayas, also recorded from South India.
Also oc'c ursin Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun, 'Tehri, Ahnora, Bag,eshwa.r,
Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts.
108 Zoo!o,g ;cal Survey of bldia
98. Sephisa dichroa (Kollar)

The Western Courtier
1844. Limenilis dichroa KQUar In .' Hugel's Kaschmir und das Reich ,d er Siek, 4(2) : 429, no. I, pI. 8,
figs. 1 2.
1932, Sephisa ,dlchroa (KoUar) Evans. The IdentifIcation of Il1dia1.l Butterflies. Bombay nat, Hist. Soc.
147.,
General Ecology: It is fairly cornrnon butterfly, visits damp patches, dung, flowers, over. .
rip'e fruit etc, and generally found in shaded nallahs bordering forested regions and along
strealTIS. It flights rapid and g,eneraJly returning to the same spot
Diagnostic Characters : Male

and female: Upper side: Both
wings dark brown above. Forewing
with two tawny, irregular brok1en
bands, ,c rossed by black veins.
Preapical and su~-terminal spots
tawny in male and whitish in
female.
Hindwing with black vein and
black outer discal band. Under side:
Paler, markings as on upper side
but paler; marginal series of lunules
U;p per s' de Male more conspicuous on hindwings.
Wingspan : 60 . . 75 mm.
Distribution : The species is

distributed from Chitral to Kumaon
and ascends to about 8,000 feet in
western Himalayas. Also occurs in
Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Uttarakhand: Dehra Dun, Almora,
Bag'eshwar,Chamoli, Champawat,
Haridwar and Nainital districts.
Vnder side : 1alc

KUMAR: Handbook on Common BlIlIel/lies of Uttarakhand 109
8. Family LYCAENIDAE
Blues
Members of the family Lycaenidae are commonly known as "The Blues" They are small
to medium-sized butterflies, with predominantly blue wings but major colour being violet to
various shades of blue. Brown, chestnut, or blackish tinge on the upper side of wings are
not uncommon. Upper side of wings tnay be unmarked, or may be spotted or banded, with
a variety of colours. The under side is typically spotted, banded and streaked in intricate
patterns and hind wings with the outer margin smoothly curved, or the tennen produced into
a lobe or a tail, which may be long or thread like.
Both the sexes have fully developed forelegs and the pre-costal vein is absent in the hind
wing. They are very delicate, very slow fliers and found almost everywhere (meadows, open
grasslands, shrubs and forest clearing). The males are fond of sunshine and visit flowers and
dalnp patches but the females seldom venture out of their habitats.
Many species show in their early stages association with ants. The ants carry caterpillars
to their nests and nurse them for their sweet-scanted juice and in return protect the caterpillars
and chrysalis from their enemies.
Seasonal variations occur in a number of species, like change of colour and markings on
the wings sometimes being very pronounced. Some species appear so Inuch alike that often
it becomes difficult to separate them with certainty except by examination of their genitilia.
The Lycaenids are among the smallest of the butterflies. The "Grass Jewel" is the slnallest
of all the Indian butterflies, measuring about 15 mm.
SOine common species of this family occurring In the State are CastaUlIs rosilnon
(Fabricius), Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus), etc.
no ZooJogic,a! Survey of India
99. Ca,sla.liu5' ros';'lIo11 (Fabrkius)

The Common PierrO't
1775. Papilio rosimoll Fabricius. Syst. £n(., : 523.
1907. Caslalius rosimol1 (Fabricius) : Bingham "rile f',auna of Britid, India" (Bunel/lics) , 2 : 424.
General ,Ecology : A COlnlnon speci1es of the open d,eciduous forests" scrub" grasslands
and near hUlnan habitatiQns.Aweak flier ,a nd always flies close to the ground~ avoids
thickets or shaded places, prefering edges and roads in the forests; fond of sunshine and
basking,. It visits flowers and dalnp patches.
Upper side Mal,e Und,e r side Male
Diagnostic Characters : Head, thorax and abdomen black above and white beneath, the
latter banded at the sides.
Male: Upper side: Both wings white, with a grey-blue base, ov'er which a brilliant
silvery irroration, varying according to the light; anterior margin ,and border blackish-brown .
Forewing with a very irregular series of square, broad, dark spots on disco-cellular ,and post-
discal area. Hindwing with spots as on forewing but narrow and not irregularly placed.
Under side: Both wings white with deep spots and streaks.
Female : Larger than male, both wings with posterior border broader, the black colour
more prominent; both wings as in the tnale. The species shows seasonal variation. Th,e
specimens on the wings during the rains are much darker and heavily marked than those
occurring in the dry s'eason.
Distribution : The species is comtTIQn throughout India including Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, ascending to about 7,000 fe,et in Himalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Uttarakhand : Ahnora, Dehra Dun, Haridwar ~ehri, Bageshwar and Pauri districts .
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Butt(n1he.') (~r Uuar.akhalld
100. Lampldes boe,tic.lls (Linnaeus)

The Pea Blue
1767. Papillo boelicus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (12tb ed.), (2): 789, no. 226.
1962. Lampides boeticus (Linna'e us) : Cantlie The Lycaenida1e portion of Brig. Evans "rite Identification
of Indian Butterflies, 1932 : 6'9.
General Ecology: One of th,e most widely

distribut'e d of all Blues, very comlnon in
agricultural fields, where peas, beans and their
relatives are grown. It is a very persistent
migrant. It migrates to northwest India in )arg
numbers frOITI South India in March and April.
It is very strong on wings, flies fast with rapid
wing beals and is fond of sunshine ,a nd open
places. vi 'iting Howers. It al 0 often scUJ,es
on ground and d,mnp patches. l ndt.'r side :\);,1(.'
Upper side F,c nlalc Under side Female
Diagnostic Characters: ,M ale: Upper side: Both wings violet~ blue with two tornal
spots on hindwing. Forewing with tbe costal.nargin narrowly and the outer Inargin more
broadly pale fuscous. Hindwing with the costal and post'erior margins p,al'e fuscous" two
large bla'c k spots at the anal angle,. Underside : Both wings p,a ie brown or whitish with
narrow brown bands. Hindwing with two orange crowned tornal black spots. In between
the brown bands a broad wh itish discal band.
Female ': Upper side : Both wings dark brownish with blue scaling at the bases;
generaHy with obscure white marginal crescent. Forewing with a disca1 bluish patch.
Hindwing has a slightly long, white tipped tail; two outer greyish sub-marginal bands .
the inner broadest; black anal angutar spots as in the tnale, distinctly m,argined with
greenish,. Under side : Both wings ,as in the male.
Wingspan : 24. . 36 mm.
Distribution : The species is common throughout the country and ascends to about
J0.,000 feet in Himalayas. Uttarakhand : Chamoli" Dehra Dun and Haridwar districts.
112 Zoologic,a l Survey of India
101. Lycae,n a pava"a (Kollar)

he White-Borde ed Copper
1844 . Polyommalus pal1Qlla Kollar, In : Hugel's Kaschmir unci das Reich de,. Siek. 4(2) : 416, pI. 5- figs.
5, 6 (male).
1932 . Lycaena pavalla (Kollar) Evans, rhe Identification of .Indian Butte,:/lies : 244 .
•
G,eneral Ecology: A fairly cornmon species that .occurs during SUlTIlner months on the
outer ranges of the west,e rn Hilnalayas. It loves sunshine and open places" ' specially waslte
lands. The flight is lively but not very fast, close to the ground and seldoln sustains. It visits
low growing flow,_rs.
Upper s'de Ma' e
Diagnostic Characters : Male and fe/nale : Upper side : Forewing rich copper red, the
,c osta narrowly, tbe out'er margin broadly black; three black spots in the discoidal cell; :a
discal seri,es of seven spots placed in the ,e chelon. Hindwing dark brown with an obscure
central copper patch; a linear black spot at the end of the 'c ell, two similar spots beyond it;
a strong marginal hand of copp'e r cresc1ents. Under side:: Forewing bright orang'e, the outer
margin cinereous, bearing an outer series of black dots and an inner series of prominent
black spots. Hindwing brownish-grey, with prolninent black spots surrounded by a narrow
whitish ring., three towards the base, thr,e,e on the dis,c, two at the end of theceH. Female:
Upper side : Forew'i ng differs froln thelnale in the outer black border being broader.
Hindwingwith.out central copper patch. Under side : Both wings like the male.

Distribution: The speci'e s is ,c ommon on the outer ranges of western Hilnalayas from
Kashmir to Kumaon and ascends to about 13,000 feet. Doherty (1886) r,e ports it froln
Kumaon between 4,500 and 13,000 feet. Uttarakhand : Almora, Chamoli, Nainital, Pithoragarh,
Tehri, Bageshwar, 'C hampawat, Uttarkashi and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
KU MAR: F-flllldl>()ok on Com.rl.lon BlInetj1ies of Unar(lkh(Jlld U3
102. Heliopltorus sena (KoUar)

'T he Sorrel Sapphire
[844. Polyommatus sena Kollar, In: Hugel's Kaschmir fmd das Reich ,de,. Seik. 4(2) : 415" pI. 5, figs. 3,
4 (male).
['957. Heliophortls sena (KoUar) : Wynter-Blyth, The BUllelilies of Indian Regiol1 : 303 .
General Ecolo.gy : Undoubtedly a cOlnmon species in W'estern Hilnalayas and easy to

catch. (t is found in fairly dry and open ground. It fli'es quickly but never long dis,tance,
settles frequently on flowers" rocks and leaves of low growing v,egetation 'On road nonnaUy
paths, in the sunny glades or nallahs. The females do not 'C Olne out int'0 open areas and are
not seen as often as the Inales.
,D iagnostic Characters : Male:
Upper side ,: Both wings dark shining
violet. Forewing wIth broad dark
border. Hindwing with the costal and
outer Inargin broadly black, the latter
bearing a prominent series of orange
lunul,es enclosing rounded black spots,
the last outwardly marked with fine
bluish-white dots, an intensely black
anteci liary line. Under side : Both
wings dull ochra,ceous, a fine black
anteciliary line. Forewing with a
submarginal .orange 'Iunulat,ed band Upper s.ide Male
from the first median nervuJe
de,c reasing to the apex, inwardly
defined by a narrow white lunular line.
Hindwing with the outer margin

similarlymark'ed as in forewing but the
marking bro.ader. Female : Upper side
: Both wings dark brown; the orange
lunulated sub-marginal band on the
hindwing as in thelnale, but InOTe or
less continued on the for'ewing. Under
side : Both wings as in the male.
,Wingspan : 28-33 min.
Distribution : Th,e speci'es is very COITIlnOn fro III Chitral (Pakistan) to KU111aOn and
ascends toO about 9,000 feet in Hitn,alayas. Uttarakhand Ahnora, Chalno'li, D'ehra Dun~
Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Rudra Prayag., Bageshwar, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh districts.
114 Zoological SurvC'y (~l '"dia
103. He!iophol"lIs QJulr,ocies corliscailS (Moore)

The Green Sapphire
] 882. J/erda cortl''iCalU Moore, Proc. zoo/. Soc. Lond,, : 248.
1957. Heliopltorus (llldrocles contscan' (Moore) ,JVYlltcr-b~vth. rh<, Buttel:llh's of /lldi<1Il R,'gion .: 304.
Genel;al Ecology: It is one of the most beautiful of Indian butterflies, found along forest
paths, open fields and \vastelands and hUlnan habitations. A fast flier and sun loving butterfly.
It flies close Ito the ground for short distances. Both sexes are seen basking with their wings
fully open early in the morning hours . Rests in the thicket and bushes with wings closed.
It visits flower , datnp patches and droppings.
Uppe r side Male
Diagnostic Characters Male Upper sidle : For,ewing brilliant rnetall ic green or blue
with the costa narrowly and increasingly, the apex very widely, and the outer margin decreasing
bJack. indwing with tbe disc and base green, the costa and outer margin broadly black, two
orange colour lunul'es at the anal angle. Under side : Both wings are yellow. with a disc.al
dark somewhat narrowlunular line; forewing has ·a disco-cellular hne, a sub-rnarginal dark
line, beyond which the wing is sometimes marked slightly with vermilion, the usual
conspicuous oval black spot inwards defined by a narrow white Jine at the anal angle. In the
hindwing the usual slnall indistinct dark dots scattered over the d·isc and base.
Female : Upper side : Dull smoky .. black. Forewing with small orange discal lunules.
Hindwingwith an orange marginal band. Under side:Both wings as in male.

Distribution : The subspecies has a very wide distribution throughout the out.er ranges of
western Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon at an altitude ranging between 4,000 to 12,000
feet in Himalayas.. Uttarakhand : Almora, Chamoli, Dehra Dun, Tehri, Rudra Prayag,
Bageshwar, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh districts.
KUMAR: ,H(I1.ldbook on Common Butte/llies ,(~r UUarakh(ll1(/ 115
t 04. Pseudozeeria n.aiJa (Kollar)

The Pale Grass Blue
1844. Lycaen.a maha Kollar, III ,: Hugel's Karchmir ulld das Reich der Si,ek, 4(2) : 422.
1907. Pseudozizeel'ia maha (Kollar) : Bingham, The Fauna ,o f British India (Buuerflie,v) 2 : 355,
General Ecology: It is one of the COlnmonest butterflies of hHly regions. It can be seen
in open grassy patches along riv r beds, disturbed human habitations and borders of cultivated
fi,elds. It is a w ak fli ,er, does not fly very far and tlies ,close to the ground. It vis it low
growing flowers and settles on J ave with wing clos,ed basks in the Jnorning \vith 'A,jngs
1
partly open, but wh'en it feeds .or rests, it ke'eps its wings clos' d 'O ver its back~ .
ale Under side
Diagnostic Characters : H,ead, thorax and abdomen bluish above; antennae with while
rings.
Male: Upper side: Both wings s:ilvery bluish, w'ith the entir,e border narrow and fuscous.
Under side: For,ewing with a series of large black spots in the clell ,as well as a bar end 'c,eU,
Hindwing with a series of slnall black dots" that in area 6 lnidway between 5 and 7 and in
line. AU the dots circl,e dwith whitish.
Felnate : Upper side: Both wings dark brown to fuscous with basal blue scaling. Under
side: With darker markings.
The species shows weU-tnarked seasonal variation, the specimens" wh:ich occur during
rains are much darker than those which occur during the dry season.
Distribution : The species occurs throughout India, asclending to about 9'1000 feet in
Himalayas. Also occurs in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanrnar. Uttarakhand : Dehra
Dun, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi and Udhaln Singh Nagar. districts.
1\6 Zoological SUrl'ey of India
105. Rapala va,r una (He'Nitson)

The I ndigo Flash
'863 . Deudor;x vanilla Hewitson, II/ust,: Diurn. Lep,., : 22., no. 16.
1957. Rapala varrma (Hewitson) ,: Wynter~ Blyth, Tlte ButleJilies of India" Region : 361.
Genetal Ecology It is a beautiful and robust little butterfly, somewhat reselnbling the
Skippers in its Inanner of flight, which i. straight and very fast. It lives in thick and hilly
areas but som,etimes found on the plains. It sits with its wings closed and loves visiting
flowers. Male also visits dalnp patches,
Diagnostic Characters: Male: Upper side: Both wings dun shining dark indigo-blue or
brilliant rich deep ultra marine-blue. Forewing with costa narrowly, the apex widely and
decreas' ngly to the anal angle, where it ends in a point, black. Hindwing with costa and
outer margin narrowly black, the abdominal margin pale fuscous, the anal lobe bla,ck, inw,ardly
with a patch of dull ochraceous ferruginous scales. Under side : Both wings dull slaty-
brown, with deep black markings; forewing discal band white edged on both sides and
usually broad. Hindwing discal band generally curved and parallel to termen; bar end cell
usuaUy close to discal band.
Female : Upper side : Both wings as in male, but the blue not so brilliant. Under side
: Both wings pale ochraceous-brown, all the markings dark brown. Hindwing with the lower
portion of discal band fined in with ferruginous; a fine anticiliary white line, obsolete
anteriorly.
Distribution: The species is widely distributed in India, both at low el,evalions in the hills
and in the plains and ascends to about 7,000 feet in Himalayas, Also occurs in Sri Lanka
and Myanlnar. Uttarakhand : Dehra Dun and Nainital districts.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Butterflies of Uuarakhand 117
106.. Celatrina huegelii (Moor'e)

THE LARGE HEDGE BLUE
1882.. Cyanir;s hu(?geUi Moore, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., : 204.
General Ecology ': It is an extremely ,c ommon butterfly. It can be found in the gardens,
shrubs, hedges etc. and more nearer streams. The species is noticeably not fond of s'etd ing
on damp patches. The food plant of this species is Pril1ceia utilis of falnily Rosaceae.
Diagnostic ,C haracters : Male :

Upper side: Both wings similar in .
.
colour, but of a darker blue tint.
Forewing: with a more slender blackish
marginal band. Hindwing with a cleady
defined marginal line. Under side ,:
'Grey. Both wings with similar but more
distinct markings, the discaI series .of
spots on the hindwing linear in shape,
the marginal spots and sub-marginal
lunular band much more prominent.
Female : More dusky throughout. pper side 1ale
Upper side : Forewing with broader
blackish marginal broader, the latter
with well-defined inner pale dentate
mark~, the inner area beyond sand the
veins also dusky black. Under side
Both wings as in the male.
Dlstribution : The species is

,c ommon in Uttarakhand. Its ranges
from 3,500 to 12,000 and is common
from Kashmir to Kumaon. Uttarakhand:
D,e hraDun, Tehri, Rudrapr,a yag,
Uttarakashi, Charnoli, Almora, Under side M,ale
Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and
Champawat districts.
118 Zoologicla l Sun ey of bulfa
9. Family HESPERIIDAE
S .ippers
Members of this falnily are popularly known as "Skippers" They are rnostly slnall in
size and very active in habits. They are always dark brown to black in colour and spotted
or banded with white or yellow, and the rnarkings often being se'l nj ... transparent' very few are
brightly coloured.
The bodi,es of these buttertl ies are very robust and strong. In both the sexes, the legs are
prefe,ct and functional for walking. The legs ar,e covered with vlery dense., long and thin
scales; antenna'e are placed wide apart, tapering to a point at the tip or with a curved hook.
The head is wider than the thorax and eyes are Jargle and prominent.
The flight is usually v,ery rapid, They are fond of basking in sunshine and visit tlow,ers,
damp patches; some feed on bird"s droppings. The eggs are dome shaped, smooth or ridged
longitudinally. The smooth and cylindrical caterpillars spend their life in cells made of
leaves. They feed on dicotyledon, grasses, palms, bamboos and ginger etc.
The family Hesperiidae is the third largest family of the bUUerflies in the world. In India,
about 320 species are known t'O occur, of whi,ch only 63 are re,corded from Western Himalaya
and 42 from Uttarakhand. The present account deals with only four species.
) 07. Cela,e norrhinus leucocera (Kollar)

The Common Spotted Flat
1844. Hesperia ,eucocera Kollar, In ,: Huge.ls Kaschm.ir ulld de,. Reich der Seik.4 (I) : 454, pI. 18, fig.
3, 4.
1897. CelaenorrhiJlus leucocera (Ko]Jar) : Elwes & Edward, Trans.R. ent. Lond.. 14~ pI. 4 : 116.
General Ecology: As the butterflies of this group keep their wings spread flat, they are
caned HFI,a ts"The Common Spotted Flat a is butterfly of shaded areas, ev,ergr,een and
mixed deciduous for,ests, especiaHy in low land country. It rests with wings widely open on
the under sides of the leaves, It onen visits Howlers and occ,asionaHy wet patches. Its flight
is rapid but seldom sustained for long distance.
Diagno 'tic Characters : Male and
female : Upper side : Wings dark brown.
Forewing with a white discal band formed
of 5 semi-transparent spots and 5 apical
spots" which are joined to each other. The
wings margin ,chequered with bla,ck and
white. Hindwing with a few obscure non
transparent orange o,c hra,c eous spots.
pper side Male
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Buuelllies of Ullar(lkhal1d 119
Female sirnHar to male but two large discal bands disconnected in th forew'ing. The tnale
has shaft plain white antennae where as the female has brown antennae with white cluh,
Under side : Markings as above but pale with an additional yeHowish brown small round
spot in the celL
Distribution : Widely distribut,ed species in the plains and asc,ends to about 8.,000 feet in
Himalayas. Uttarakhand : Ahnora, Nainital and Bageshwar districts.
108. Caprona rallsonn,etti (Felder)

The Golden Ang e
1868. Pterygaspidea ransonneul Felder, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wein.. : 284 .
1987. Caprolla ralJsonnelt (Felder): lwes & Edward, Trans. R. ell!. Lond., t 4, pl. 4 : 150-151.
General Ecology : Acomlnon butterfly with angular wings, seen in the lowland forests.
It is a fast flier, flight always ,clos,e to the ground and does not sustain for long distance. It
visits flowers and dalnp pat,ches and often settles on the top of leaves . It can be 'caught while
basking in tbe sun.
Upper side Male
Diagnostic Characters: Male and female Upper side : Wings dark brown. Forewing
with central and 'marginal golden .. brown areas having seJni~transparent, large and small
white spots in the disc and a group of small elongate spots in the apex. Hindwing dark
brown with central yellow-brown area divided by dark veins in the wet season fonn,. Th,e dry
season forms are much paler with extensive yellow-brown tnarkings.
Under side : Hindwing white with basal, discal and marginal rows of dark spots,.
DIstribution: The species ranges from peninsular Ind'a to Madhya Pradesh and Hilnachal
Pradesh to Assam. Also occurs in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Uttarakhand :
Dehra Dun, Haridwar and Pauri distri,cts.
120 Zoologic,cll Survey of Indi,a
109. Oriensgola (M oor,e)

The Common D,a rt.let
1877. Padl'ona gola Moore, Proc.. zool. Soc. Lond." : pI, 58, fig. 9,
1949. ,Oriens gala (Moore) : Evans, A Cata/~gue of Hesperiidae from Europe. Asia and Auslralia in
Brilish Museum (Nat.. His!.) : 372.
"
General Ecology His generally seen in the forest areas of heavy rainfall; fond of
visiting flowers. lttl ies closer to ground at low ,e levations r,epidly, but never to a great
d istance.
Diagnostic Characters : .Male and female : Upper side : Wings dark brown with tawny
yellow markings. Forewing 'with low,er part of straight tawny yellow discal band c,entral
(spot in I b is in the middle of I b, spot end cell co-joined to spot in 2) ~ con ..joined ,apical
spots 6 to 8; spot ,end cell, Inay be one above it. Hindwing with central discal band; no spot
in cell. The discal bands on the upper side are not divided by black veins.
Under side : Hindwing usually orange with prominent black spot.
Wing: pan ; 24-28 mm.
Distribution : The species is common in South India, Kumaon to Sikkim ,and Assam
and ascends to about 6,500 feet in Himalayas. Also occurs in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Uttarakhand Dehra Dun, Haridwar, Pithorag.arh, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh
Nag.ar districts .
KUMAR: Handbook on Common ButleJ/lies of UUlIJ'akhand 12\
11 O. U{IQ~pe.s folu.s (eralner)

The Grass Demon
1775. Papilio lotus Cramer. Pap. E>:ol.• 1 : pI. 74- fig, 7,
J949, Udaspes la/us (Cr.amer), Evans: A Catalogue 0/ Hesperiidae .li'om Europe. Asia and AUJlralia in
BrUisl, Museum (Nat. Hist,J : 292.
General Ecology: It is quite cOlnmon in open areas .of forests as w'ell as on tbe plains
more abundant in neighbourhood of streams where it s ttles on stones. Its flight is quick,
short and close to the ground. It can be seen basking e,a dy in th,e morning with hind wings
funy expanded and forewings partly opened. Like most of the Skippers, it is a nectar-lover.
It visits flowers of Vincoroses and Lantana, its favQuri ,te nectar sources. It also visits cow
dung rarely_
Diagnostic Characters: Head thorax

and abdomen dark brown to black above~
paler beneath.
Male andfetnale : Upper side: Wings
dark brown with larg'e semi-transparent
spots. Forewing with nine white-yellowish
spots in discal and sub apical area, 1 b to
9. Hindwingwith a large semi-transparent
yeHowish-whit,e patch in the middle from
area 1 to 6. Under side : Paler, forewing
shnilar as on the upper side, hindwing with
white patch bordered with dark brown
streak extending to the base and outer
margin mostly greyish-wh'ite. A sinall black
spot is present on the d:arker costal area.
The species has been reported as a pest on
ginger and tunneric.
Wingspan 40-48 mm.
Distribution : The species is cotnlnon

in southern India, Madhya Pradesh., Uttar
Prad,esh and West Bengal to Assaln. Also
occurs in Myanmar. Uttarakhand :
Haridwar distri,ct.
l Jndcr sid'l' !\ I ~t.l·

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XV+506 pp., 2 pIs. 1 map.(Published By Taylor and Francis, London).
Varshney, R.K. 1977. Index Rhopalocera Indica: An idea of local list of butterflies from
India and neighbouring Countries, Rec. zool. Surv. India, 73 : 159-178.
Varshney, R.K. 1979-90. Revised nomenclature for taxa in Wynter-Blyth book on the
Bu"tterflies of the Indian Region. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 76( 1) : 33-40; 82(2) : 309-
321 & 87(1) : 53-61.
Varshney, R.K. 1993, Index Rhopalocera indica Pt. III. Genera of Butterflies from India and
neighbouring countries. Oriental Ins., 27 : 347-372.
Varshney, R.K. 1994, Index Raphalocera Indica Pt. III. Genera of Butterflies from India and
neighbouring countries. Oriental Ins., 28 : 151- 198.
Varshney, R.K. 1997. Index Rhopalocera Indica Pt. III. Genera of Butterflies from India and
neighbouring Countries. Oriental Ins., 31 : 83- 138.
Wiliams C.B.1930 Migration of Butterflies. : 296-301. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, U.K.
Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., Bombay; xx + 523 pp., 72 pIs.
Wyanter-Blyth, M.A. 1957. Butterflies of Indian Region, The Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. Bombay,
XX +523pp., 72 pis.
Table 1. Distribution of Butterfly species dealt, in the State of Uttarakhand.
...,
.-.c .-
ell
~ .c ~
.c
~ ell
= """
~ """
~ ~ =
-e .--;...,
~
.;;
= """~
~ """
Q..
1:1}
~ ~
ell
~
~
.c
~
.-"""
"0 Q..
~ ~ 0
e e """
·c
.-=
~ "0 1:1}
0t:
.a """ ...,
...,""" e"""
0
...,"""
.c
0 ~ ~
.c ell
~
-<
~ ~
~ = .c "0
=
~
.c ~
ell
~ .c "0 ~
=
~
Q :t: ~ ;J u z Ci: u ~z
Sl. Narne of the species 1 2

Q.
3 4 "5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
No.
Family PAPILIONIDAE
1. Pachliopta aristolochiae + + + + +
(Fabricius)
2. Chilasa clytia clytia (Linnaeus) + + + + +

3. Papilio polytes romulus Cramer + + + + + + + + + + + + +
4. P. protenor protenor Cramer + + +
+ + + + + + +
5. P. polyctor polyctor Boisduval + + + + + + + + +
6. P. demoleus demoleus Linnaeus + + + + + + + + + + + + +
7. P machaon punjabensis Eimer + + + + + - + + + + +
8. P paris paris Linnaeus + + + + + +
9. Graphium cloanthus cloanthus + + + + + + + + + +

(Westwood)
10. Graphium eurous (Leech) + +
11. Graphium nomius nomius (Esper) + + + +

12. G sarpedon (Linnaeus) + + +
SI. N arne of the species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
No.
....
13. Parnassius hardwickei Gray - + + + + -
14. Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus) + + + +
Family PIERIDAE
15. Leptosia nina nina (Fabricius) + + + + + + + + +
16a Metaporia agathon phryxe - + + + + +
(Boisduval)
16b M. a. caphusa (Moore) + + + + + + + +

17. M. leucodice soracta (Moore) + + + + +
18. Delias belladonna Horsfieldi + + + + + + + + + + +
(Gray)
19. Delias eucharis (Drury) + + + + + + + + +

20. Anaphaeis aurota aurota + + + + + + + + + + +
(Fabricius)
21. Ceporia nerissa phryne + + + + + +

(Fabricius) N
22. Pieris canidia indica (Evans) + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

c
c
c
~
-
~.
Q
23. Pieris brassicae nepalensis + + + + + + + + +
Doubleday
24. Pontia daplidice moori (Rober) + + + + + +
25. Ixias marianne (Cramer) + + + + + + +

Sl. N arne of the species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
No.
26. Ixias pyrene kausala (Moore) + + + + + + +
27. Valeria valeria hippia(Fabricius) + + + + + +
28. Catopsilia crocale (Cramer) + + + + + + + + + + + +
29. C. pyranthe (Linnaeus) + + + + + + + + + + + +
30. Gonepteryx rhamni nepalensis + + + + + + + + +
3l. Eurema laeta laeta (Boisduval) + + + + + + + + + + + +

Doubleday
32. E. hecabe fimbriata (Wallace) + + + + + + + + + +
33. E. brigitta rubella (Wallace) + + + + + + + + + +

34. Colias electo fieldi Menetries + + + + + + + + + + + + +
35. Colias erate erate (Esper) + + + +
Family DANAIDAE
36. Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus + + + + + + + + + + + +
37. D. genutia genutia (Cramer) + + + + + + + + + + + + +
38. Parantica sUa (Kollar) + + + + +
39. Trrumala limniace leopardus + + + + +
(Butler)
40. T. hamata septentrionis + + + + + + +

(Butler)
tv
Sl. Name of the species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 00
No.
41. Parantica aglea melanoides + + + + + - .. + +
Moore
42. Euploea core core (Cramer) + + + + + + + + + + +

43. E. mulciber mulciber (Cramer) + + + + - + + + + +
Family ACRAEIDAE
44. Acraea issoria anomala Kollar + + + + + + + + + +
45. A. violae (Fabricius) + + + +
Family SATYRIDAE
46. Mycalesis perseus blasius + + +
(Fabricius)
47. M. mineus mineus (Linnaeus) + + + + + +

48. Lethe con/usa con/usa + - + +
Aurivillius
49. L. insane insana insana (Kollar) + - - + + + + + +

50. L. jalaurida jalaurida (deN) - + + + + + +
51. L. baladeva aisa Fruhstofer - + + + +
52. L. maitrya maitrya deN - +
53. L. rohria rohria (Fabricius) + + + +
54. L. verma verma (Kollar) + + + +
Sl. N arne of the species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
No.
55. Lasiommata schakra schakra + - + + + + - + + + -
(Kollar)
56. Rhaphicera moorie moorie Butler + - - - - - + - + + + - -

57. Aulocera brahminus (Blanchard) + - - - - + + - + + + - -
58. A. padma padma (Kollar) + - - - + + + - - - - - -
59. A. swaha swaha (Kollar) + - - - + + + - + + + - -
60; A. saraswati (Kollar) + - - - + + + - - + - - -
61. Callerebia scanda scanda + - - - + + + - + + + - -
(Kollar)
62. Ypthima sakra nikaea Moore - - - + - + + + - + - -

63. Y. ceylonica huebneri Kirby + + + + - - - - - - - -
64. Y. nareda nareda (Kollar) - - + + + + + +
65. Y. baldus baldus (Fabricius) + + + -

66. Melanitis leda ismene (Cramer) + + + + + + +
67. Elymnias hypermnestra + + + +
undularis (Drury)
Family ERYCINIDAE
68. Libythea myrrha Godart + + + + + +
69. L. leptia Moore + + + + + + ...
81. N arne of the species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
No.
c
70. Dodona durga (Kollar) + + + + + + +
71. D. eugenes Bates - +
Family NYMPHALIDAE
72. Athyma opalina (Kollar) + + + + + + +
73. Neptis hylas astola Moore + + + + + + + +
74. N. mahendra Moore + + + + + + + +
75. N. yerburyi yerburyi Butler + + + + + + +
76. Cyrestis thyodamas Boisduval + + + + + + + + + +
77. Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus) + + + + + + +
78. H. misippus (Linnaeus) + + + +
79. Kallima inachus Boisduval + + + +
80. Junonia hierta hierta (Fabricius) + + + + + + + +
81. Junonia orithya (Linnaeus) + + + + + + + + +
82. Junonia lemonias (Linnaeus) + + + + + + + + + + +
83. Junonia almana almana Linnaeus + + + + + +

84. Junonia atlites (Linnaeus) + + + + + + + + + + +
85. Junonia iphita .(Cramer) + + + + + + + + + + + +
86. Cynthia cardui Linnaeus + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Sl. Narne of the species 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
No.
87. Vanessa indica (Herbst) + + + + + + + + + + + +
88. V. egea (Cramer) - + +
89. Aglais cashmirensis (Kollar) - + + + + + + + +
90. Kaniska canace (Linnaeus) ~ - + + + + + + + + + +
91. Argyreus hyperbius ~ + + + + + + + +

hyperbius (Johanssen)
92. Issoria lathonia Linnaeus ~ - + + + + + +
93. Childrena childreni (Gray) f- - + + + + + + + +
94. Fabriciana kamala (Moore) f- - + + + + +
95. Phalanta phalantha + + + + + + + + + +

phalantha (Drury)
96. Ariadne merione (Cramer) + + + + + + + + + +
97. Cupha erymenthis (Drury) + - + + + + + +
98. Sephisa dichroa (Kollar) + + + + + + +
Family LYCAENIDAE
99. Castalius rosimon (Fabricius) 4- + + + + +
100 Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus) + + - - + - -

101 Lycaena pavana (Kollar) f- - + + + + + + + + +
Sl. Name of the species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
No.
102. Heliophorus sena (Kollar) + + + + + + + ..

103. H. androcles coruscans (Moore) + + + + + + + + +
104. Pseudozizeeria maha (Kollar) + + + + + + +
105. Rapala varuna (Hewitson) + +
106. Celastrina hugelli (Moore) + + + + + + + + +
Family HESPERIIDAE
107. Celaenorrhinus leucocera - + + +
(Kollar) -
108. Caprona ransonnetti (Felder) + + +
109. Oriens gola (Moore) + + + + + +
110. Udaspes folus (Cramer) - + +
Note: Distribution of the species in Uttarakhand is based on the collection actually available with the author
or reported by previous workers.
KUMAR: Handbook on Common Butterflies of Uttaraklland 133
INDEX
Acraea issoria anomala 53 Celaenorrhinus leucocera 118
Acraea violae 54 Ceporia nerissa phryne 30
Acraeidae 53 Chestnut Tiger 47
African Emigrant 38 Chilasa clytia clytia 10
Aglais cashmirensis 99 Childrena children; 103
Anaphaeis aurota aurota 29 Chocolate Pansy 95
Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius 101 Club Beak 77
Ariadne merione 106 Colias electo fieldi 43
Athyma opalina 82 Colias erate erate 44
Aulocera brahminus 67 Common Beak 78
Aulocera padma padma 68 Common Blue Apollo 21
Aulocera saraswati 70 Common Blue bottle 20
Aulocera swaha swaha 69, COlnmon Brimestone 39
Banded Bree-Brown 58 Common Bush-brown 56
Barred Wood Brown 62 Commom Cabbage White 3 1
Bath White 33 Common Caster 106
Beaks 77 Common Dartlet 120
Blues 109 Common Emigrant 37
Blue Admiral 100 Common Evening Brown 74
Blue Pansy 91 Common Five-ring 74
Blue Tiger 48 Common Forester 59
Browns 56 Common Four-ring 72
Callerebia scanda scanda 71 Common Grass Yellow 41
Caprona ransonnetti 119 Common Gull 30
Castalius rosimon 110 Common Indian Crow 50
Catopsilia crocale 37 Comlnon lezebel 27
Catopsilia pyranthe 38 Common Leopard 105
Celastrina huegelii 117 COlnmon Map 86

Common Mime 10 Delias eucharis 29

Common Monnon 12 Dodona durga 79
Common Palmfly 76 Eastern Comma 98
Common Peacock 14 Elymnias hypermnestra undularis 67
Common .. Pierrot 110 Erycinidae 77
Common Punch 79 Euploea core core 50
Common Rose 10 Euploea mulciber mulciber 51
Common Sailer 83 Eurema brigitta rubella 42
Common Satyr 69 Eurema hecabe jimbriata 41
Common Silver-stripe 104 Eurema laeta laeta 40
Common Spotted Flat 118 Fabriciana kamala 104
Commom Three-ring 73 Glassy Blue Bottle 17
Common Tiger 46 Glassy Tiger 49
Common Tree-brown 63 Golden Angle 119
Common Wall 65 Gonepteryx rhamni nepalensis 39
Common Wanderer 35 Graphium agamenon 22
Common Yellow Swallowtail 16 Graphium cloanthus cloanthus 17
Cupha erymenthis 107 Graphium eurous 18
Cynthia cardui 96 Graphium nomius nomius 19
Cyrestis thyodamas 86 Graphium sarpedon 20
Danaid Eggfly 88 Grass Demon 121
Danaidae 45 Great Satyr 68
Danaus chrysippus 45 Great Blackvein 25
Dadona eugenes 80 Great Eggfly 87
Danaus genutia genutia 46 Green Saphire 114
Parantica sUa 47 Grey Pansy 94
Dark B.lue Tiger 48 Heliophorus androcles coruscans 114
Dark Brand Bush-Brown 57 Heliophorus sena 113
Dark Clouded Yellow 43 Hesperiidae 118
Delias belladonna horsjieldi 28 Hill lezebel 28
KUMAR: Handbook on Common BlltteJ:/lies of Uttarakhand 135
Himalayan Blackvein 26 Lethe verina verina 64

Himalayan Five-ring 71 Libythea lepita leptia 78
Himalayan Sailer 84 Libythea myrrha 77
Himalayan Sergeant 82 Lilne Butterfly 15
Hypolimnas bolina 87 Lycaenidae 109
Hypolimnas misippus nlisippus 88 Melanitis /eda iSlnene 74
Indian Cabbage White 31 M etaporia a. caph usa 26
Indian Fritillary 101 Metaporia agonthon phryxe 25
Indian Red Admiral 97 Metaporia leucodice soraeta 26
Indian Tortoise-shell 99 Milkweed Butterflies 45
Indigo Flash 116 Mycalesis 111ineus 111ineus 57
lssoria lathonia 102 Mycalesis perseus blasius 56
lxias marianne 34 N arrow Banded Satyr 67
lxias pyrene kausala 35 Neptis hylas astola 83
Kallima inachus 89 Neptis mahendra 84
Kaniska canace 100 Neptis yerblllyi yerbillyi 85
Letha ba/adeva 61 NYlnphalidae 81
Letha insane insane 58 Orange Oak-leaf 89
Lycaena pavana 112 Oriens gola 120
Lampides boeticus 111 Pach/iopta arist%ehiae 10
Large Cabbage White 31 Painted Lady 96
Large Hedge Blue 117 Pale Clouded Yellow 44
Large Silver-stripe 103 Pale Grass Blue I 15
Large Three-ring 73 Pallid Argus 71
Lemon Pansy 92 Papilio den10/eus de/no/ellS 15
Leptosia nina nina 24 Papilio 111achaol1 punjabensis 16
Lethe confusa confusa 58 Papilio po/yctor po/yetor 14
Lethe jalaurida jalaurida 60 Papillo po/ytes rOlnll/liS 12
Lethe Inaitrya Inaitlya 62 Papiljo protel1or protenor 13
Lethe rohria rohiia 63 Papilionidae 9
136 Zoological Slirvey of India
Parantica aglea melanoides 49 Small Silver fork 60

Lasiolnlnata schakra schakra 65 Small Tawny Wall 66
Paris Peacock 17 Sorrel Sapphire 113
Parnassius hardwickei 21 Spangle 13
..
Pea Blue III Sppt Swordtail
Peacock Pansy 93 Spotless Grass Yellow 40
Phalanta phalantha phalantha 105 Straight Banded Tree-brown 64
Pieridae 23 Striated Satyr 70
Pieris brassicae nepalensis 3 1 Striped Blue Crow 51
Pieris canidia indica 3 I Tailed Jay 22
Pioneer 29 Tai led Punch 80
Plain Tiger 45 Tawny Coster 54
Pontia daplidice 33 Tirumala h(lInata septentrionis 48
Psyche 24 Tirumala limniace leopardlls 48
Punches 77 Treble Silver-stripe 61
Queen of Spain Fritillary 102 Udaspes folus 121
Junonia almana almana 93 Valeria valeria hippia 35
Junonia atlites 94 Vanessa egea 98
Jllnonia hierta hierta 90 Vanessa indica 97
Junonia iphita 95 Western Courtier 108
Junonia lemonias 92 White Orange tip 34
Junonia orithya 91 White-bordered Copper 112
Papilio paris paris 17 Yellow Coster 53
Rapala varuna 116 Yellow Orange tip 35
Rhaphicera Inoorie n100rie 66 Yellow Pansy 90
Rustic 107 Yerburyi's Sailer 85
Satyridae 56 Ypthima haldus baldus 74
Sephisa dichroa 108 YpthinUl ceylonica huebneri 72
Six bar Swordtail 18 Ypthhna nareda nareda 73
Slnall Grass Yellow 42 Ypthima sakra nikaea 71

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PARMOD KUMAR

Edited by the Director, Zoological Survey of india, Kolkata

Zoological Survey of India

Published : August, 2008

© Govt. of India, 2008

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Handbook on "Common Butterflies of Uttarakhand" is an effort by the Scientist of the

HISTORICAL RESUME .................................................................................................... 3

1. Family PAPIOLINIDAE .......................................................................................... 9-22

2. Family PIERIDAE ................................................................................................. 23-44

3. Family DANAIDAE ............................................................................................... 45-52

4. Fatnily ACRAEIDAE ............................................................................................. 53-55

5. Family SATYRIDAE .............................................................................................. 56-76

6. Family ERYCINIDAE ............................................................................................ 77-80

7. Family NYMPHALIDAE ..................................................................................... 81-108

8. Family LYCAENIDAE ....................................................................................... 109-11 7

9. Family HESPERIIDAE ...................................................................................... 118-121

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 122

TABLE ............................................................................................................................. 125

INDEX .................................................................................................................... 133-136

The present document attempts to describe and illustrate COlnmon butterflies of

Fig. 1. Type of venation and name of the parts of wings.

UP-Upper side/dorsal side, V-Vein, DCV-Disco-cellular vein

UN-Underside/ventral side, M-Male, F-Female, WS-Wingspan.

Fig. 2. Map showing districts of Uttarakhand

Location and area

Uttarakhand has been broadly divided into four topographical regions :

2. Middle Himalayan region.

4. Himalayan Moist temperate forests : Between 1600-2900 m altitude in the Himalayas,

1. Pa,cltliopta ar; 'toloclliae (Fabricius)

2. ,C hilasa elytia ,clytia (Linnaeus)

1758. Papilio c/ylia Linnaeus, Syst. Nat." () Olh ed.) : 479.

Upper side fom "fylill Undc side form "(.'fi.ll

3. Papi/io po/pt.e... ron'.IIIII~\· Cralner

1775. Pari/io romulus. Crmner, Pap. Exot., 1 : 67.

Generdl Ecology It is a 'most COlnlnon Swallowtail butterfly, occurring near hUlnan

Wingspan : Male 75 ~94 IntTI., Female : 88-94 rnm.

Distrihution : The sub-speci,es is very COIU1TIon throughout P'e ninsuJar India

4. Papilio prQ,tenor protenor (Cramer)

General Ecology : It is a tail-less black-bodied butterfly. It is fond of dalnp patches,

Upper side Male

Diagnostic Characl,ers : Antennae black; head, thorax and abdolnen brownish-black.

Wingspan: 100.. 140 mm.

5. Papllio poiyctor poiyctor (Boisduva'l)

Wingspan : 90~ 130 mm.

6.. Papilio demoleus demoleus Li nnaeus

Male and female : Upp,e r side :

Distribution: The Subspecies is v'ery common throughout India,asc,ending toabout 7,000

7. Papilio nraclraoll pUI.jabellsis Eitner

Wingspan : 75 ~90 mm.

8. Papilio paris paris Linnaeus

Mate and female : Upp,e r side :

Wingspan: 90- 140 mm. Upp'c r side I\'hlle

9, Graphiun, cloa.nthus cloanthu.s (W'estwood)

Male and female ,: Both sexes have

10. Graphium eu,r ous (Leech)

) 983 . Graphium euro,us (Leech) : Hancock, Smithersia, 2 : 48.

Upper side - Ma lie Under :s ide .. Male

11 . Graphium non,,;us IIomius (Esper)

General Ecology: The Spot Swordtail is

Diagnostic Character~' : Head, thorax and

Wingspan : 70-90 mm.

Distribution: The subspecies is common in its rangle of distribution in peninsular India